Bellingham WA vs Corpus Christi TX — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

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

Bellingham, WA

Washington · Population: 92,367

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

Corpus Christi, TX

Texas · Population: 317,383

  • Median HH Income$66,325
  • Median Home Price$226,494
  • Unemployment5.4%
  • Bachelor's+24.3%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Bellingham
92,367
Corpus Christi
317,383
Corpus Christi +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Bellingham
N/A
Corpus Christi
N/A
Median Age
Bellingham
34.5
Bellingham +
Corpus Christi
36.3
Foreign Born
Bellingham
9.1%
Bellingham +
Corpus Christi
8.7%
White
Bellingham
79.5%
Bellingham +
Corpus Christi
54.7%
Black
Bellingham
1.3%
Corpus Christi
4.3%
Corpus Christi +
Asian
Bellingham
5.4%
Bellingham +
Corpus Christi
2.5%
Hispanic
Bellingham
10.0%
Corpus Christi
61.4%
Corpus Christi +
Spanish at Home
Bellingham
N/A
Corpus Christi
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Bellingham
$65,821
Corpus Christi
$66,325
Corpus Christi +
Per Capita Income
Bellingham
$42,120
Bellingham +
Corpus Christi
$33,579
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Bellingham
$76,120
Bellingham +
Corpus Christi
$63,758
Unemployment Rate
Bellingham
5.6%
Corpus Christi
5.4%
Corpus Christi +
Poverty Rate
Bellingham
18.3%
Corpus Christi
17.5%
Corpus Christi +
Bachelor's Degree+
Bellingham
46.5%
Bellingham +
Corpus Christi
24.3%

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Bellingham
$669,185
Corpus Christi
$226,494
Corpus Christi +
Homeownership Rate
Bellingham
45.2%
Corpus Christi
57.9%
Corpus Christi +

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Bellingham
383
Bellingham +
Corpus Christi
442
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Bellingham
3409
Corpus Christi
2339
Corpus Christi +

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Bellingham
26.0%
Bellingham +
Corpus Christi
39.7%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Bellingham
7.7%
Bellingham +
Corpus Christi
15.9%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Bellingham
19.7%
Corpus Christi
16.8%
Corpus Christi +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Bellingham
8.2%
Bellingham +
Corpus Christi
24.3%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Bellingham
18.5%
Corpus Christi
18.3%
Corpus Christi +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Bellingham
10.5%
Bellingham +
Corpus Christi
13.5%

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Bellingham
51.7°F
Bellingham +
Corpus Christi
72.1°F
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Bellingham
35.3 in
Corpus Christi
32.5 in
Corpus Christi +

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Bellingham
7.5 µg/m³
Bellingham +
Corpus Christi
9.2 µg/m³
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Bellingham
75.0%
Bellingham +
Corpus Christi
55.0%

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Bellingham
20.1 min
Bellingham +
Corpus Christi
22.0 min

Which City is Right for You?

Corpus Christi leads in median household income at $66,325, while corpus Christi offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $226,494. On public safety, Bellingham is safer with a violent crime rate of 383 per 100,000 residents, compared to 442 in Corpus Christi. Corpus Christi has a lower unemployment rate at 5.4%, 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 Bellingham & Corpus Christi