Asheville NC 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)
Asheville, NC
North Carolina · Population: N/A
- Median HH IncomeN/A
- Median Home Price$461,425
- UnemploymentN/A
- Bachelor's+N/A
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
Asheville
N/A
Bellingham
92,367
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Asheville
N/A
Bellingham
N/A
Median Age
Asheville
N/A
Bellingham
34.5
Foreign Born
Asheville
N/A
Bellingham
9.1%
White
Asheville
N/A
Bellingham
79.5%
Black
Asheville
N/A
Bellingham
1.3%
Asian
Asheville
N/A
Bellingham
5.4%
Hispanic
Asheville
N/A
Bellingham
10.0%
Spanish at Home
Asheville
N/A
Bellingham
N/A
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Bellingham, WA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | N/A | 92,367 | - |
| Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space | N/A | N/A | - |
| Median Age | N/A | 34.5 | - |
| Foreign Born | N/A | 9.1% | - |
| White | N/A | 79.5% | - |
| Black | N/A | 1.3% | - |
| Asian | N/A | 5.4% | - |
| Hispanic | N/A | 10.0% | - |
| Spanish at Home | N/A | N/A | - |
Economy
Median HH Income
Asheville
N/A
Bellingham
$65,821
Per Capita Income
Asheville
N/A
Bellingham
$42,120
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Asheville
$59,120
Bellingham
$76,120
Bellingham +
Unemployment Rate
Asheville
N/A
Bellingham
5.6%
Poverty Rate
Asheville
N/A
Bellingham
18.3%
Bachelor's Degree+
Asheville
N/A
Bellingham
46.5%
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Bellingham, WA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median HH Income | N/A | $65,821 | - |
| Per Capita Income | N/A | $42,120 | - |
| Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level | $59,120 | $76,120 | Bellingham + |
| Unemployment Rate | N/A | 5.6% | - |
| Poverty Rate | N/A | 18.3% | - |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | N/A | 46.5% | - |
Housing
Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Asheville
$461,425
Asheville +
Bellingham
$669,185
Homeownership Rate
Asheville
N/A
Bellingham
45.2%
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Bellingham, WA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS | $461,425 | $669,185 | Asheville + |
| Homeownership Rate | N/A | 45.2% | - |
Safety
Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Asheville
398
Bellingham
383
Bellingham +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Asheville
1999
Asheville +
Bellingham
3409
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Bellingham, WA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 398 | 383 | Bellingham + |
| Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 1999 | 3409 | Asheville + |
Health
Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Asheville
31.5%
Bellingham
26.0%
Bellingham +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Asheville
10.4%
Bellingham
7.7%
Bellingham +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Asheville
15.9%
Asheville +
Bellingham
19.7%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Asheville
9.2%
Bellingham
8.2%
Bellingham +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Asheville
15.7%
Asheville +
Bellingham
18.5%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Asheville
12.1%
Bellingham
10.5%
Bellingham +
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Bellingham, WA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity RateCDC PLACES | 31.5% | 26.0% | Bellingham + |
| Diabetes RateCDC PLACES | 10.4% | 7.7% | Bellingham + |
| Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month | 15.9% | 19.7% | Asheville + |
| No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES | 9.2% | 8.2% | Bellingham + |
| Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES | 15.7% | 18.5% | Asheville + |
| Current SmokersCDC PLACES | 12.1% | 10.5% | Bellingham + |
Climate
Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Asheville
55.9°F
Bellingham
51.7°F
Bellingham +
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Asheville
45.6 in
Bellingham
35.3 in
Bellingham +
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Bellingham, WA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 55.9°F | 51.7°F | Bellingham + |
| Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 45.6 in | 35.3 in | Bellingham + |
Air Quality
PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Asheville
8.7 µg/m³
Bellingham
7.5 µg/m³
Bellingham +
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Asheville
75.0%
Bellingham
75.0%
Tie
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Bellingham, WA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.) | 8.7 µg/m³ | 7.5 µg/m³ | Bellingham + |
| Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50 | 75.0% | 75.0% | Tie |
Commute
Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Asheville
N/A
Bellingham
20.1 min
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Bellingham, WA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS | N/A | 20.1 min | - |
Which City is Right for You?
Asheville offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $461,425. On public safety, Bellingham is safer with a violent crime rate of 383 per 100,000 residents, compared to 398 in Asheville. 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%.
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