Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
Westminster, CA
🏆 Bellingham leads 12 of 23 categories
Bellingham
Washington
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,026
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
91,353 ✓ Larger
Westminster
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,271 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High
Population
90,638
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
Homes cost $249k less ($528,600 vs $777,100)
Rent averages $592/mo less ($1,385 vs $1,977)
20% less violent crime than Westminster
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (4.8%)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 46.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Westminster by $16,245/yr
Property crime (3756.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Westminster, CA
Pros
Households earn $16,245 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 48°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $777,100
Higher rents — median is $1,977/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (2498.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellingham
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 104.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Bellingham
Violent Crime
20% lower
350.0 vs 436.2 per 100k
Bellingham
Median Home Value
$249k less
$528,600 vs $777,100
Bellingham
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
4.8% vs 7.5% unemployment
Westminster
Median Income
$16,245
$80,271 vs $64,026/yr
Westminster
Summer Heat
7.4°F warmer
July avg high 82.5°F vs 75.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | Westminster, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $528,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $777,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,977⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 | $80,271 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min ✓ Shorter | 28.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% ✓ Higher | 9.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% ✓ Higher | 26.0% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 77.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | Westminster |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 82.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 ✓ Larger | 90,638 |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 41.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 52.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 21.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% | 17.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs Westminster's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Bellingham is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bellingham leads 12 of 23 categories. Bellingham wins 12 and Westminster 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 Westminster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $777,100 median home), income ($64,026 vs $80,271), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and Westminster, CA are about 1,062 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.