Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
Tempe, AZ
🏆 Tempe leads 14 of 23 categories
Bellingham
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,026
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
91,353
Tempe
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,022 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
181,005 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
26% less violent crime than Tempe
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 106°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.8%)
Rent averages $87/mo less ($1,385 vs $1,472)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $528,600
Property crime (3756.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Tempe by $7,996/yr
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Tempe
Tempe, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $147k less ($382,100 vs $528,600)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 48°F
Households earn $7,996 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 14.3:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Bellingham
Cons
Violent crime (470.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2893.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 4.8%)
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellingham
Violent Crime
26% lower
350.0 vs 470.3 per 100k
Bellingham
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.8% vs 5.7% unemployment
Tempe
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 99.9 vs 104.1 (100 = US avg)
Tempe
Median Income
$7,996
$72,022 vs $64,026/yr
Tempe
Median Home Value
$147k less
$382,100 vs $528,600
Tempe
Summer Heat
30.8°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 75.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | Tempe, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.1⚠ High | 99.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $528,600⚠ High | $382,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,472⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 | $72,022 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min ✓ Shorter | 21.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 93.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | Tempe School District (4258) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 | 181,005 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 ✓ Older | 29.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% ✓ Higher | 40.7% |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 14.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs Tempe's 99.9 (US average = 100).
Tempe is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tempe leads 14 of 23 categories. Bellingham wins 9 and Tempe wins 14. 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 Tempe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $382,100 median home), income ($64,026 vs $72,022), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and Tempe, AZ are about 1,193 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.