Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
Surprise, AZ
🏆 Surprise leads 17 of 23 categories
Bellingham
Washington
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,026
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
91,353
Surprise
Arizona
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$87,756 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
29 ✓ Safer
Population
145,591 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
Rent averages $437/mo less ($1,385 vs $1,822)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 105°F
More college-educated — 46.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 17.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $528,600
Median income trails Surprise by $23,730/yr
Property crime (3756.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Surprise
Surprise, AZ
Pros
69% less violent crime than Bellingham
Homes cost $176k less ($352,600 vs $528,600)
Households earn $23,730 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (109.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 48°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Bellingham
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,822/mo
Longer commutes — 30.5 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Surprise
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 101.2 vs 104.1 (100 = US avg)
Surprise
Median Income
$23,730
$87,756 vs $64,026/yr
Surprise
Violent Crime
69% lower
109.1 vs 350.0 per 100k
Surprise
Median Home Value
$176k less
$352,600 vs $528,600
Surprise
Summer Heat
29.5°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 75.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | Surprise, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.1⚠ High | 101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $528,600⚠ High | $352,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,822⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 | $87,756 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% | 14.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 29 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 93.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | Dysart Unified District (4243) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" | 9.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 | 145,591 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 41.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 78.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs Surprise's 101.2 (US average = 100).
Surprise is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Surprise leads 17 of 23 categories. Bellingham wins 6 and Surprise wins 17. 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 Surprise or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $352,600 median home), income ($64,026 vs $87,756), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and Surprise, AZ are about 1,163 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.