Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Athens-Clarke County, GA
VS
Bend, OR
🏆 Bend leads 14 of 23 categories
Athens-Clarke County
Georgia
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,798
Violent Crime Index
107⚠ High
Population
126,672 ✓ Larger
Bend
Oregon
14
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.
Athens-Clarke County, GA
Pros
Homes cost $335k less ($242,300 vs $576,900)
Rent averages $604/mo less ($1,045 vs $1,649)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Bend
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 43°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Smaller class sizes — 10.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Bend by $34,873/yr
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 3.8%)
Bend, OR
Pros
Households earn $34,873 more per year on average
59% less violent crime than Athens-Clarke County
Violent crime is well below the national average (168.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (3.8%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,900
Higher rents — median is $1,649/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Athens-Clarke County
Key Differences at a Glance
Athens-Clarke County
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 105.8 (100 = US avg)
Athens-Clarke County
Median Home Value
$335k less
$242,300 vs $576,900
Athens-Clarke County
Summer Heat
8.2°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 83.8°F
Bend
Median Income
$34,873
$82,671 vs $47,798/yr
Bend
Violent Crime
59% lower
168.5 vs 406.1 per 100k
Bend
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Athens-Clarke County, GA | Bend, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 105.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $242,300 ✓ Lower | $576,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,045 ✓ Lower | $1,649⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,798 | $82,671 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.0 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.8% | 19.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 107⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 107⚠ High | 44 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.0% | 48.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.8% | 95.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clarke County | Bend-LaPine Administrative SD 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.7°F ✓ Warmer | 42.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 83.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.0" | 10.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.6" ✓ Less | 21.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,672 ✓ Larger | 99,442 |
| Median Age | 28.7 | 39.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 61.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 20.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 17.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Athens-Clarke County's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Bend's 105.8 (US average = 100).
Athens-Clarke County is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bend leads 14 of 23 categories. Athens-Clarke County wins 9 and Bend wins 14. 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 Athens-Clarke County to Bend or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,300 vs $576,900 median home), income ($47,798 vs $82,671), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Athens-Clarke County, GA and Bend, OR are about 2,132 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.