Bellingham, WA vs Graham, WA

Bellingham is moderately more affordable than Graham, with a 10.8% lower cost of living index. Bellingham scores 129 compared to 144 for Graham, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Graham can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Bellingham is $1,478/month compared to $2,172/month in Graham — a 32% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Bellingham has cheaper rent, Graham actually has lower median home values ($472,800 vs $577,400).

Median household income in Bellingham is $65,821 compared to $115,501 in Graham (-43%). While Graham is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Bellingham spend roughly 26.9% of their income on rent, more than the 22.6% in Graham.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (51.2°F vs 51.9°F). Graham receives more rainfall at 42" per year compared to 34.7" in Bellingham.