Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Atlanta, GA
VS
Bend, OR
🏆 Bend leads 12 of 23 categories
Atlanta
Georgia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$77,655
Violent Crime Index
221⚠ High
Population
494,838 ✓ 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.
Atlanta, GA
Pros
Homes cost $181k less ($395,600 vs $576,900)
More college-educated — 57.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $137/mo less ($1,512 vs $1,649)
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 43°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Bend
Cons
Violent crime (840.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3748.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 3.8%)
Median income trails Bend by $5,016/yr
Bend, OR
Pros
80% less violent crime than Atlanta
Violent crime is well below the national average (168.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (3.8%)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Households earn $5,016 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 90°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,900
Higher rents — median is $1,649/mo
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Atlanta
Key Differences at a Glance
Atlanta
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 105.8 (100 = US avg)
Atlanta
Median Home Value
$181k less
$395,600 vs $576,900
Atlanta
Summer Heat
6.2°F warmer
July avg high 90.0°F vs 83.8°F
Bend
Median Income
$5,016
$82,671 vs $77,655/yr
Bend
Violent Crime
80% lower
168.5 vs 840.6 per 100k
Bend
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Atlanta, GA | Bend, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 105.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $395,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $576,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,512⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,649⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,655 | $82,671 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.5 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 23.2% ✓ Higher | 19.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 204⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 221⚠ High | 44 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.3% ✓ Higher | 48.4% |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% | 95.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Atlanta Public Schools | Bend-LaPine Administrative SD 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 53.7°F ✓ Warmer | 42.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer | 83.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.8" | 10.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" ✓ Less | 21.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 494,838 ✓ Larger | 99,442 |
| Median Age | 33.6 | 39.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.7% | 61.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.2% | 20.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 17.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Atlanta's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Bend's 105.8 (US average = 100).
Atlanta is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bend leads 12 of 23 categories. Atlanta 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 Atlanta to Bend or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($395,600 vs $576,900 median home), income ($77,655 vs $82,671), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Atlanta, GA and Bend, OR are about 2,086 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.