Bend, OR vs Bellingham, WA: where should you move?
Bend: High-desert playground; housing is the wall. Bellingham: Between Seattle and Vancouver, sea and summit.
Dimension
Bend
Bellingham
Median home price
$672K
$622K
Effective property tax
0.93%
0.87%
Tax friendliness
4/10
9/10
Winter mildness
5/10
5/10
Summer comfort
10/10
10/10
Walkability
5/10
4/10
Outdoor access
10/10
9/10
Culture & food
6/10
5/10
Healthcare
4/10
4/10
Airport connectivity
6/10
5/10
Schools
7/10
7/10
Safety
7/10
7/10
Hazard safety (10 = lowest risk)
8/10
6/10
Growth trajectory
9/10
8/10
Pick Bend if your priorities lean: Walkability, Outdoor access, Culture & food, Airport connectivity. Pick Bellingham if they lean: Median home price, Effective property tax, Tax friendliness. There is no universal winner — only a winner for your weights.