Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
Washington, DC
🏆 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
Washington
District of Columbia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$101,722 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
244⚠ High
Population
670,587 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
62% less violent crime than Washington
Homes cost $176k less ($528,600 vs $705,000)
Rent averages $432/mo less ($1,385 vs $1,817)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (4.8%)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 90°F
Cons
Median income trails Washington by $37,696/yr
Property crime (3756.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Washington, DC
Pros
Households earn $37,696 more per year on average
More college-educated — 62.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 10.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $705,000
Violent crime (925.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,817/mo
Property crime (3588.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellingham
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 104.1 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Bellingham
Violent Crime
62% lower
350.0 vs 925.9 per 100k
Bellingham
Median Home Value
$176k less
$528,600 vs $705,000
Bellingham
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
4.8% vs 7.1% unemployment
Washington
Median Income
$37,696
$101,722 vs $64,026/yr
Washington
Summer Heat
14.7°F warmer
July avg high 89.8°F vs 75.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | Washington, DC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 108.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $528,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $705,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,817⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 | $101,722 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% | 25.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 215⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 244⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High | 171⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | A (119) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 92.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | District of Columbia Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F ✓ Warmer | 44.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 89.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" ✓ Drier | 45.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" ✓ Less | 9.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 | 670,587 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 34.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% ✓ Higher | 41.4% |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 18.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs Washington's 108.6 (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 Washington 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 Washington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $705,000 median home), income ($64,026 vs $101,722), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and Washington, DC are about 2,327 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.