Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
Yakima, WA
🏆 Yakima leads 12 of 23 categories
Bellingham
Washington
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,026 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
91,353
Yakima
Washington
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,734
Violent Crime Index
143⚠ High
Population
96,764 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
36% less violent crime than Yakima
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (4.8%)
More college-educated — 46.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $8,292 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 88°F
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 40°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 3% higher than Yakima
Yakima, WA
Pros
Homes cost $285k less ($243,300 vs $528,600)
Rent averages $371/mo less ($1,014 vs $1,385)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Bellingham
Cons
Violent crime (544.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Bellingham by $8,292/yr
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 4.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellingham
Median Income
$8,292
$64,026 vs $55,734/yr
Bellingham
Violent Crime
36% lower
350.0 vs 544.3 per 100k
Bellingham
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
4.8% vs 8.1% unemployment
Yakima
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 101.6 vs 104.1 (100 = US avg)
Yakima
Median Home Value
$285k less
$243,300 vs $528,600
Yakima
Summer Heat
13.2°F warmer
July avg high 88.3°F vs 75.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | Yakima, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.1⚠ High | 101.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $528,600⚠ High | $243,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High | $1,014 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 ✓ Higher | $55,734 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min | 17.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% ✓ Higher | 5.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% ✓ Higher | 19.3% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 77.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | Yakima School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F ✓ Warmer | 39.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 88.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" ✓ Less | 20.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 | 96,764 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 33.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 53.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 15.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs Yakima's 101.6 (US average = 100).
Yakima is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Yakima leads 12 of 23 categories. Bellingham wins 11 and Yakima wins 12. 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 Yakima or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $243,300 median home), income ($64,026 vs $55,734), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and Yakima, WA are about 174 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.