Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
Toledo, OH
🏆 Bellingham leads 12 of 23 categories
Bellingham
Washington
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,026 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
91,353
Toledo
Ohio
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$45,405
Violent Crime Index
274⚠ High
Population
269,962 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
66% less violent crime than Toledo
Households earn $18,621 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (4.8%)
More college-educated — 46.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 34°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 85°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $528,600
Higher rents — median is $1,385/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Toledo
Property crime (3756.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Toledo, OH
Pros
Homes cost $430k less ($98,800 vs $528,600)
Rent averages $531/mo less ($854 vs $1,385)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Bellingham
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.4)
Smaller class sizes — 15.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Bellingham by $18,621/yr
Violent crime (1041.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2732.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 4.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellingham
Median Income
$18,621
$64,026 vs $45,405/yr
Bellingham
Violent Crime
66% lower
350.0 vs 1041.1 per 100k
Bellingham
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
4.8% vs 8.2% unemployment
Toledo
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 90.4 vs 104.1 (100 = US avg)
Toledo
Median Home Value
$430k less
$98,800 vs $528,600
Toledo
Summer Heat
9.5°F warmer
July avg high 84.6°F vs 75.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | Toledo, OH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.1⚠ High | 90.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $528,600⚠ High | $98,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High | $854 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 ✓ Higher | $45,405 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min ✓ Shorter | 19.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% ✓ Higher | 4.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 216⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 274⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% ✓ Higher | 20.2% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 88.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | Toledo City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F ✓ Warmer | 33.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 84.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" | 37.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" ✓ Less | 37.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 | 269,962 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 52.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 14.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs Toledo's 90.4 (US average = 100).
Toledo is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bellingham leads 12 of 23 categories. Bellingham wins 12 and Toledo wins 11. 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 Toledo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $98,800 median home), income ($64,026 vs $45,405), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and Toledo, OH are about 1,933 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.