Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
Spring Valley, NV
🏆 Spring 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
Spring Valley
Nevada
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,341 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
25 ✓ Safer
Population
220,114 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (4.8%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 106°F
More college-educated — 46.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Rent averages $138/mo less ($1,385 vs $1,523)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $528,600
Property crime (3756.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Spring Valley by $5,315/yr
Spring Valley, NV
Pros
73% less violent crime than Bellingham
Homes cost $153k less ($375,200 vs $528,600)
Violent crime is well below the national average (94.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 48°F
Households earn $5,315 more per year on average
Cons
Higher unemployment (7.6% vs 4.8%)
Higher rents — median is $1,523/mo
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellingham
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
4.8% vs 7.6% unemployment
Spring Valley
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 104.1 (100 = US avg)
Spring Valley
Median Income
$5,315
$69,341 vs $64,026/yr
Spring Valley
Violent Crime
73% lower
94.1 vs 350.0 per 100k
Spring Valley
Median Home Value
$153k less
$375,200 vs $528,600
Spring Valley
Summer Heat
30.7°F warmer
July avg high 105.8°F vs 75.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | Spring Valley, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.1⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $528,600⚠ High | $375,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,523⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 | $69,341 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min ✓ Shorter | 22.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% ✓ Higher | 10.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High | 25 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 25 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High | 25 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% ✓ Higher | 30.0% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 88.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | Clark County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 105.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" | 6.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 | 220,114 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 38.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 49.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 19.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 15.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs Spring Valley's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Spring Valley is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Spring Valley leads 14 of 23 categories. Bellingham wins 9 and Spring 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 Spring Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $375,200 median home), income ($64,026 vs $69,341), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and Spring Valley, NV are about 948 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.