Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
Spokane Valley, WA
🏆 Spokane Valley leads 14 of 23 categories
Bellingham
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,026
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
91,353
Spokane Valley
Washington
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,483 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
103,761 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
More college-educated — 46.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.8%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 87°F
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $528,600
Higher rents — median is $1,385/mo
Property crime (3756.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Spokane Valley
Spokane Valley, WA
Pros
Homes cost $221k less ($307,700 vs $528,600)
31% less violent crime than Bellingham
Violent crime is well below the national average (242.1 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $210/mo less ($1,175 vs $1,385)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Bellingham
Cons
Property crime (3515.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 4.8%)
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellingham
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.8% vs 5.8% unemployment
Spokane Valley
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 101.0 vs 104.1 (100 = US avg)
Spokane Valley
Median Income
$2,457
$66,483 vs $64,026/yr
Spokane Valley
Violent Crime
31% lower
242.1 vs 350.0 per 100k
Spokane Valley
Median Home Value
$221k less
$307,700 vs $528,600
Spokane Valley
Summer Heat
12.0°F warmer
July avg high 87.1°F vs 75.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | Spokane Valley, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.1⚠ High | 101.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $528,600⚠ High | $307,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High | $1,175 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 | $66,483 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min ✓ Shorter | 20.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% ✓ Higher | 10.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High | 167⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% ✓ Higher | 25.3% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 94.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | East Valley School District (Spokane) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F ✓ Warmer | 37.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 87.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" | 17.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" ✓ Less | 45.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 | 103,761 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 57.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 21.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs Spokane Valley's 101.0 (US average = 100).
Spokane Valley is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Spokane Valley leads 14 of 23 categories. Bellingham wins 9 and Spokane Valley wins 14. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Bellingham to Spokane Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $307,700 median home), income ($64,026 vs $66,483), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and Spokane Valley, WA are about 253 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.