Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
Tyler, TX
🏆 Tyler leads 13 of 23 categories
Bellingham
Washington
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,026 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
91,353
Tyler
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,056
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High
Population
106,440 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
11% less violent crime than Tyler
More college-educated — 46.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (4.8%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 93°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $528,600
Higher rents — median is $1,385/mo
Property crime (3756.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Tyler
Tyler, TX
Pros
Homes cost $323k less ($205,200 vs $528,600)
Rent averages $272/mo less ($1,113 vs $1,385)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Bellingham
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 48°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellingham
Median Income
$970
$64,026 vs $63,056/yr
Bellingham
Violent Crime
11% lower
350.0 vs 391.2 per 100k
Bellingham
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
4.8% vs 5.3% unemployment
Tyler
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 104.1 (100 = US avg)
Tyler
Median Home Value
$323k less
$205,200 vs $528,600
Tyler
Summer Heat
18.0°F warmer
July avg high 93.1°F vs 75.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | Tyler, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.1⚠ High | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $528,600⚠ High | $205,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High | $1,113 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 ✓ Higher | $63,056 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min ✓ Shorter | 20.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 103⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% ✓ Higher | 31.1% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 87.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | TYLER ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F | 57.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 93.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" ✓ Drier | 47.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" | 0.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 | 106,440 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 34.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 54.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 22.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 16.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs Tyler's 92.4 (US average = 100).
Tyler is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tyler leads 13 of 23 categories. Bellingham wins 10 and Tyler wins 13. 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 Tyler or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $205,200 median home), income ($64,026 vs $63,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and Tyler, TX are about 1,806 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.