Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
Springfield, IL
🏆 Springfield leads 12 of 23 categories
Bellingham
Washington
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,026 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
91,353
Springfield
Illinois
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,419
Violent Crime Index
237⚠ High
Population
114,214 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
61% less violent crime than Springfield
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (4.8%)
More college-educated — 46.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 36°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 86°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $528,600
Higher rents — median is $1,385/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Springfield
Property crime (3756.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Springfield, IL
Pros
Homes cost $381k less ($147,700 vs $528,600)
Rent averages $472/mo less ($913 vs $1,385)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Bellingham
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.5)
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (901.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4911.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 4.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellingham
Median Income
$1,607
$64,026 vs $62,419/yr
Bellingham
Violent Crime
61% lower
350.0 vs 901.2 per 100k
Bellingham
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
4.8% vs 6.6% unemployment
Springfield
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 90.5 vs 104.1 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$381k less
$147,700 vs $528,600
Springfield
Summer Heat
10.4°F warmer
July avg high 85.5°F vs 75.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | Springfield, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.1⚠ High | 90.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $528,600⚠ High | $147,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High | $913 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 ✓ Higher | $62,419 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% ✓ Higher | 10.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 237⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High ✓ Safer | 234⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | A- (111) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% ✓ Higher | 34.7% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 92.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | Springfield SD 186 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F ✓ Warmer | 35.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" ✓ Drier | 40.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" ✓ Less | 21.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 | 114,214 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 40.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 21.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs Springfield's 90.5 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Springfield leads 12 of 23 categories. Bellingham wins 11 and Springfield wins 12. 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 Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $147,700 median home), income ($64,026 vs $62,419), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and Springfield, IL are about 1,722 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.