Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
Victorville, CA
🏆 Bellingham leads 13 of 23 categories
Bellingham
Washington
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,026
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
91,353
Victorville
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$65,746 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
267⚠ High
Population
134,417 ✓ 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 Victorville
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.5 pts lower (4.8%)
Commutes run 22 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 46.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 98°F
Rent averages $76/mo less ($1,385 vs $1,461)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $528,600
Property crime (3756.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Victorville, CA
Pros
Homes cost $228k less ($300,600 vs $528,600)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 48°F
Cons
Violent crime (1015.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (10.3% vs 4.8%)
Longer commutes — 40.5 min average each way
Higher rents — median is $1,461/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellingham
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 104.1 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Bellingham
Violent Crime
66% lower
350.0 vs 1015.6 per 100k
Bellingham
Unemployment
5.5 pp lower
4.8% vs 10.3% unemployment
Victorville
Median Income
$1,720
$65,746 vs $64,026/yr
Victorville
Median Home Value
$228k less
$300,600 vs $528,600
Victorville
Summer Heat
22.4°F warmer
July avg high 97.5°F vs 75.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | Victorville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $528,600⚠ High | $300,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,461⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 | $65,746 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min ✓ Shorter | 40.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% ✓ Higher | 9.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 201⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 267⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | C- (57) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% ✓ Higher | 11.4% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 77.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | Victor Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F | 58.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" | 5.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 | 134,417 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 59.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 30.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs Victorville's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Bellingham is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bellingham leads 13 of 23 categories. Bellingham wins 13 and Victorville wins 10. 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 Victorville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $300,600 median home), income ($64,026 vs $65,746), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and Victorville, CA are about 1,017 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.