Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
Sunnyvale, CA
🏆 Sunnyvale leads 15 of 23 categories
Bellingham
Washington
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,026
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
91,353
Sunnyvale
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$174,506 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
154,573 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
Homes cost $1152k less ($528,600 vs $1,680,700)
Rent averages $1605/mo less ($1,385 vs $2,990)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Sunnyvale
Smaller class sizes — 17.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sunnyvale by $110,480/yr
Property crime (3756.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.8% vs 4.1%)
Sunnyvale, CA
Pros
Households earn $110,480 more per year on average
30% less violent crime than Bellingham
Violent crime is well below the national average (244.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 68.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.1%)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 48°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,680,700
Higher rents — median is $2,990/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Bellingham
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellingham
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 104.1 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Bellingham
Median Home Value
$1152k less
$528,600 vs $1,680,700
Sunnyvale
Median Income
$110,480
$174,506 vs $64,026/yr
Sunnyvale
Violent Crime
30% lower
244.5 vs 350.0 per 100k
Sunnyvale
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.1% vs 4.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | Sunnyvale, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $528,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,680,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,990⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 | $174,506 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min ✓ Shorter | 23.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% | 24.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% | 68.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 94.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | Cupertino Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 76.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" | 13.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 | 154,573 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 35.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% ✓ Higher | 44.4% |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 19.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs Sunnyvale's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Bellingham is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sunnyvale leads 15 of 23 categories. Bellingham wins 8 and Sunnyvale wins 15. 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 Sunnyvale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $1,680,700 median home), income ($64,026 vs $174,506), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and Sunnyvale, CA are about 786 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.