Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
Suffolk, VA
🏆 Suffolk leads 13 of 23 categories
Bellingham
Washington
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,026
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
91,353
Suffolk
Virginia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$87,758 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
98
Population
94,856 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.8%)
More college-educated — 46.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 87°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $528,600
Median income trails Suffolk by $23,732/yr
Property crime (3756.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Suffolk
Suffolk, VA
Pros
Homes cost $214k less ($314,400 vs $528,600)
Households earn $23,732 more per year on average
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Bellingham
Smaller class sizes — 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 4.8%)
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellingham
Violent Crime
6% lower
350.0 vs 371.0 per 100k
Bellingham
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.8% vs 6.3% unemployment
Suffolk
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 104.1 (100 = US avg)
Suffolk
Median Income
$23,732
$87,758 vs $64,026/yr
Suffolk
Median Home Value
$214k less
$314,400 vs $528,600
Suffolk
Summer Heat
11.7°F warmer
July avg high 86.8°F vs 75.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | Suffolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.1⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $528,600⚠ High | $314,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High | $1,376⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 | $87,758 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% ✓ Higher | 7.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 98 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% ✓ Higher | 32.1% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 91.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | Suffolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F | 49.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" ✓ Drier | 51.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" ✓ Less | 5.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 | 94,856 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 38.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 70.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 14.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs Suffolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Suffolk is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Suffolk leads 13 of 23 categories. Bellingham wins 10 and Suffolk wins 13. 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 Suffolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $314,400 median home), income ($64,026 vs $87,758), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and Suffolk, VA are about 2,429 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.