Bellingham, WA vs University Place, WA

Bellingham is moderately more affordable than University Place, with a 6.4% lower cost of living index. Bellingham scores 129 compared to 137 for University Place, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of University Place 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 $1,664/month in University Place — a 11% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Bellingham is more affordable at $577,400 median vs $578,100.

Median household income in Bellingham is $65,821 compared to $94,952 in University Place (-30.7%). While University Place 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 21% in University Place.

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