Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
Stockton, CA
🏆 Bellingham leads 13 of 23 categories
Bellingham
Washington
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,026
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
91,353
Stockton
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,612 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
320,030 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
69% less violent crime than Stockton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (4.8%)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 46.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 17.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $528,600
Property crime (3756.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Stockton by $7,586/yr
Stockton, CA
Pros
Homes cost $147k less ($382,000 vs $528,600)
Households earn $7,586 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 48°F
Cons
Violent crime (1145.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2639.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.7% vs 4.8%)
Longer commutes — 32.8 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellingham
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 104.1 vs 107.4 (100 = US avg)
Bellingham
Violent Crime
69% lower
350.0 vs 1145.8 per 100k
Bellingham
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
4.8% vs 7.7% unemployment
Stockton
Median Income
$7,586
$71,612 vs $64,026/yr
Stockton
Median Home Value
$147k less
$382,000 vs $528,600
Stockton
Summer Heat
19.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.7°F vs 75.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | Stockton, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $528,600⚠ High | $382,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,417⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 | $71,612 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min ✓ Shorter | 32.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 231⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 302⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | C- (74) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% ✓ Higher | 18.3% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 77.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | Stockton Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F | 58.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 94.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" | 17.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 | 320,030 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 ✓ Older | 33.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 51.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 27.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs Stockton's 107.4 (US average = 100).
Bellingham is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bellingham leads 13 of 23 categories. Bellingham wins 13 and Stockton wins 10. 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 Stockton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $382,000 median home), income ($64,026 vs $71,612), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and Stockton, CA are about 747 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.