2025 Compare Cities Overview:
Bellingham, WA vs Santa Barbara, CA

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Highlights
Are people in Santa Barbara older or younger than people in Bellingham?
- The Median Age in Santa Barbara is 5.6 years older than in Bellingham.

Are housing costs cheaper in Santa Barbara or Bellingham?
- Santa Barbara housing costs are 151.6% more expensive than Bellingham housing costs.

Which city has a longer commute, Santa Barbara or Bellingham?
- The average commute for residents of Santa Barbara is 0.6 minutes shorter than it is for residents of Bellingham.

Things to do in Bellingham?
Bellingham, Washington offers stunning views of Puget Sound with plenty of outdoor recreation opportunities such as hiking trails in Chuckanut Mountains or boating in Marine Life Sanctuary Area nearby Bellingham Bay's shoreline.. This city is also known for its vibrant arts scene with museums, galleries and theaters scattered across town making it perfect for culture lovers wanting an immersive experience!

Things to do in Santa Barbara?
Santa Barbara, California has something for everyone - from fantastic beaches to world-class shopping and dining experiences. Visitors can explore Old Mission Santa Barbara or take part in various water activities around Stearns Wharf.

 Bellingham, WASanta Barbara, CAUnited States
 Population  Unlock89,132329,725,481
 Median Income$59,163  Unlock$69,021
 Median Age  Unlock39.138.4
 Avg. Home Price$606,400  Unlock$338,100
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock4.1%6.0%
 Avg. Commute Time17.72  Unlock26.38
Reviews for Bellingham    58 Reviews

Over 3 years ago

I've lived in so many cities in 5 west coast states and have come to a conclusion that Bellingham is the greatest city to live, work, play and raise a family. After  More

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Over 4 years ago

From what I’ve seen and heard, the very liberal political/ethical beliefs of Bellingham residents, as well as the grey rainy weather, are the main things a few people  More

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If you’re like many Americans and caught up in right vs left you won’t like the far left here in Bellingham wa. If you put politics away and you enjoy skiing,  More

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Reviews for Santa Barbara    51 Reviews

I moved to Santa Barbara around 23 years ago to study at Brooks, which like most of the Santa Barbara that I knew—has been destroyed. Homelessness, drugs, gangs, high  More

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Over 4 years ago

I fell in love with Santa Barbara about thirty years ago and finally moved here a few years ago. Because of the price of homes, it is an expensive place to live. The  More

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If you like high crime, paying a $4,500 a month mortgage and crazy high taxes, this is the place for you. It’s too bad because it wasn’t always like this. When I moved  More

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