Anaheim CA vs Bellingham WA — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Anaheim, CA

California · Population: 344,553

  • Median HH Income$90,583
  • Median Home Price$952,227
  • Unemployment5.5%
  • Bachelor's+28.7%

Bellingham, WA

Washington · Population: 92,367

  • Median HH Income$65,821
  • Median Home Price$669,185
  • Unemployment5.6%
  • Bachelor's+46.5%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Anaheim
344,553
Anaheim +
Bellingham
92,367
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Anaheim
N/A
Bellingham
N/A
Median Age
Anaheim
35.9
Bellingham
34.5
Bellingham +
Foreign Born
Anaheim
35.2%
Anaheim +
Bellingham
9.1%
White
Anaheim
41.2%
Bellingham
79.5%
Bellingham +
Black
Anaheim
2.5%
Anaheim +
Bellingham
1.3%
Asian
Anaheim
18.6%
Anaheim +
Bellingham
5.4%
Hispanic
Anaheim
52.5%
Anaheim +
Bellingham
10.0%
Spanish at Home
Anaheim
N/A
Bellingham
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Anaheim
$90,583
Anaheim +
Bellingham
$65,821
Per Capita Income
Anaheim
$36,541
Bellingham
$42,120
Bellingham +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Anaheim
$77,230
Anaheim +
Bellingham
$76,120
Unemployment Rate
Anaheim
5.5%
Anaheim +
Bellingham
5.6%
Poverty Rate
Anaheim
12.5%
Anaheim +
Bellingham
18.3%
Bachelor's Degree+
Anaheim
28.7%
Bellingham
46.5%
Bellingham +

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Anaheim
$952,227
Bellingham
$669,185
Bellingham +
Homeownership Rate
Anaheim
45.9%
Anaheim +
Bellingham
45.2%

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Anaheim
503
Bellingham
383
Bellingham +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Anaheim
2388
Anaheim +
Bellingham
3409

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Anaheim
26.8%
Bellingham
26.0%
Bellingham +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Anaheim
12.2%
Bellingham
7.7%
Bellingham +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Anaheim
18.0%
Anaheim +
Bellingham
19.7%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Anaheim
14.7%
Bellingham
8.2%
Bellingham +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Anaheim
15.4%
Anaheim +
Bellingham
18.5%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Anaheim
11.0%
Bellingham
10.5%
Bellingham +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Anaheim
67.1°F
Bellingham
51.7°F
Bellingham +
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Anaheim
13.4 in
Anaheim +
Bellingham
35.3 in

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Anaheim
7.9 µg/m³
Bellingham
7.5 µg/m³
Bellingham +
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Anaheim
75.0%
Bellingham
75.0%
Tie

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Anaheim
30.6 min
Bellingham
20.1 min
Bellingham +

Which City is Right for You?

Anaheim leads in median household income at $90,583, while bellingham offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $669,185. On public safety, Bellingham is safer with a violent crime rate of 383 per 100,000 residents, compared to 503 in Anaheim. Anaheim has a lower unemployment rate at 5.5%, and Bellingham has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.5 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Bellingham scores better with a lower obesity rate of 26.0%.

Compare More Cities

About Anaheim & Bellingham