Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albuquerque, NM
VS
Bend, OR
🏆 Bend leads 12 of 23 categories
Albuquerque
New Mexico
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,503
Violent Crime Index
311⚠ High
Population
562,551 ✓ Larger
Bend
Oregon
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,671 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
99,442
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albuquerque, NM
Pros
Homes cost $331k less ($246,000 vs $576,900)
Rent averages $635/mo less ($1,014 vs $1,649)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Bend
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
Milder winters — January highs near 52°F vs 43°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Bend by $21,168/yr
Violent crime (1181.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 3.8%)
Bend, OR
Pros
86% less violent crime than Albuquerque
Households earn $21,168 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (168.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (3.8%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 48.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,900
Higher rents — median is $1,649/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Albuquerque
Key Differences at a Glance
Albuquerque
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 93.0 vs 105.8 (100 = US avg)
Albuquerque
Median Home Value
$331k less
$246,000 vs $576,900
Albuquerque
Summer Heat
11.1°F warmer
July avg high 94.9°F vs 83.8°F
Bend
Median Income
$21,168
$82,671 vs $61,503/yr
Bend
Violent Crime
86% lower
168.5 vs 1181.8 per 100k
Bend
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albuquerque, NM | Bend, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.0 ✓ Cheaper | 105.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $246,000 ✓ Lower | $576,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,014 ✓ Lower | $1,649⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,503 | $82,671 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.0% | 19.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 275⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 311⚠ High | 44 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.8% | 48.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% | 95.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBUQUERQUE | Bend-LaPine Administrative SD 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.9°F ✓ Warmer | 42.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.9°F ✓ Warmer | 83.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 10.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.9" ✓ Less | 21.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 562,551 ✓ Larger | 99,442 |
| Median Age | 38.0 | 39.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% | 61.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.0% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 16.6% | 17.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albuquerque's cost of living index is 93.0 vs Bend's 105.8 (US average = 100).
Albuquerque is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bend leads 12 of 23 categories. Albuquerque wins 11 and Bend wins 12. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Albuquerque to Bend or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($246,000 vs $576,900 median home), income ($61,503 vs $82,671), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albuquerque, NM and Bend, OR are about 993 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.