Bellingham, WA vs El Centro, CA
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Bellingham
66.3
#1553 nationally
El Centro
70
#1141 nationally
El Centro leads in cost of living index (111 vs 137). Bellingham leads in median household income ($64,026 vs $54,922). Bellingham leads in average commute (18.7 min vs 21.6 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | El Centro, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 66.3 (#1553) | 70 (#1141) |
| Population | 94,720 | 43,772 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $672,756 | $396,150 |
| Median Household Income | $64,026 | $54,922 |
| Average Commute | 18.7 min | 21.6 min |
| Walk Score | 49 | 51 |
| Crime Level | 9.6 | 9.0 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 137 | 111 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+24.9 | R+0.9 |
D
66.3 Score
Bellingham, WA
Washington community balancing growth and livability
Median Home
$672,756
Population
94,720
Crime
Moderate
Walk Score
49
Pacific
View Bellingham, WA →
C-
70 Score
El Centro, CA
Small California city with local appeal
Median Home
$396,150
Population
43,772
Crime
Moderate
Walk Score
51
Pacific
View El Centro, CA →
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