Bellingham, WA vs Kent, WA

Bellingham is moderately more affordable than Kent, with a 7.6% lower cost of living index. Bellingham scores 129 compared to 139 for Kent, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Kent 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 $1,833/month in Kent — a 19% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Bellingham has cheaper rent, Kent actually has lower median home values ($537,500 vs $577,400).

Median household income in Bellingham is $65,821 compared to $90,416 in Kent (-27.2%). While Kent 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 24.3% in Kent.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (51.2°F vs 53.7°F). Kent receives more rainfall at 39.3" per year compared to 34.7" in Bellingham.