Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
Tacoma, WA
🏆 Bellingham leads 15 of 23 categories
Bellingham
Washington
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,026
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
91,353
Tacoma
Washington
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$79,085 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
280⚠ High
Population
219,234 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
67% less violent crime than Tacoma
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.8%)
More college-educated — 46.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Tacoma
Rent averages $104/mo less ($1,385 vs $1,489)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $528,600
Median income trails Tacoma by $15,059/yr
Property crime (3756.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Tacoma, WA
Pros
Homes cost $113k less ($415,300 vs $528,600)
Households earn $15,059 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (1063.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (5603.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Bellingham
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellingham
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 104.1 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Bellingham
Violent Crime
67% lower
350.0 vs 1063.0 per 100k
Bellingham
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.8% vs 5.4% unemployment
Tacoma
Median Income
$15,059
$79,085 vs $64,026/yr
Tacoma
Median Home Value
$113k less
$415,300 vs $528,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | Tacoma, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $528,600⚠ High | $415,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,489⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 | $79,085 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% ✓ Higher | 12.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 275⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 280⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High ✓ Safer | 267⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% ✓ Higher | 32.8% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 90.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | Tacoma School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 76.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" ✓ Drier | 40.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" ✓ Less | 5.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 | 219,234 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 56.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 19.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 14.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs Tacoma's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Bellingham is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bellingham leads 15 of 23 categories. Bellingham wins 15 and Tacoma wins 8. 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 Tacoma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $415,300 median home), income ($64,026 vs $79,085), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and Tacoma, WA are about 104 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.