Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arvada, CO
VS
Bend, OR
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Arvada
Colorado
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$106,014 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
75
Population
123,066 ✓ Larger
Bend
Oregon
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,671
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.
Arvada, CO
Pros
Households earn $23,343 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 16.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Homes cost $24k less ($553,000 vs $576,900)
Cons
Property crime (2478.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 55" of snow per year
Bend, OR
Pros
41% less violent crime than Arvada
Violent crime is well below the national average (168.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Arvada by $23,343/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $576,900
Key Differences at a Glance
Arvada
Median Income
$23,343
$106,014 vs $82,671/yr
Arvada
Median Home Value
$24k less
$553,000 vs $576,900
Arvada
Summer Heat
4.4°F warmer
July avg high 88.2°F vs 83.8°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 105.5 on the COL index
Bend
Violent Crime
41% lower
168.5 vs 285.6 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arvada, CO | Bend, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 105.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $553,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $576,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,706⚠ High | $1,649⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $106,014 ✓ Higher | $82,671 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High | 3.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.7% | 19.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 92 | 53 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 | 44 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.6% | 48.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% | 95.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | Bend-LaPine Administrative SD 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.2°F ✓ Warmer | 42.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer | 83.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.9" | 10.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 54.8" | 21.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 123,066 ✓ Larger | 99,442 |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 39.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.2% ✓ Higher | 61.2% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 20.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 17.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arvada's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Bend's 105.8 (US average = 100).
Arvada is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Arvada wins 11 and Bend wins 11. 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 Arvada to Bend or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($553,000 vs $576,900 median home), income ($106,014 vs $82,671), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arvada, CO and Bend, OR are about 878 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.