Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
Virginia Beach, VA
🏆 Virginia Beach leads 15 of 22 categories
Bellingham
Washington
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,026
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
91,353
Virginia Beach
Virginia
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$87,544 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
24 ✓ Safer
Population
457,900 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
Rent averages $183/mo less ($1,385 vs $1,568)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 46.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 87°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $528,600
Median income trails Virginia Beach by $23,518/yr
Property crime (3756.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach, VA
Pros
74% less violent crime than Bellingham
Homes cost $185k less ($343,700 vs $528,600)
Households earn $23,518 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (92.3 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (4.3%)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Bellingham
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,568/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Virginia Beach
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 104.1 (100 = US avg)
Virginia Beach
Median Income
$23,518
$87,544 vs $64,026/yr
Virginia Beach
Violent Crime
74% lower
92.3 vs 350.0 per 100k
Virginia Beach
Median Home Value
$185k less
$343,700 vs $528,600
Virginia Beach
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
4.3% vs 4.8% unemployment
Virginia Beach
Summer Heat
12.3°F warmer
July avg high 87.4°F vs 75.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | Virginia Beach, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.1⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $528,600⚠ High | $343,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,568⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 | $87,544 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min ✓ Shorter | 23.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% ✓ Higher | 10.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 24 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% ✓ Higher | 39.8% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 94.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | Virginia Beach City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F | 50.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 87.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" ✓ Drier | 54.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" | 3.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 | 457,900 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 64.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 15.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs Virginia Beach's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Virginia Beach is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Virginia Beach leads 15 of 22 categories. Bellingham wins 7 and Virginia Beach wins 15. 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 Virginia Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $343,700 median home), income ($64,026 vs $87,544), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and Virginia Beach, VA are about 2,453 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.