Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellevue, WA
VS
Bend, OR
🏆 Bend leads 13 of 22 categories
Bellevue
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$149,551 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
150,606 ✓ Larger
Bend
Oregon
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,671
Violent Crime Index
44
Population
99,442
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellevue, WA
Pros
Households earn $66,880 more per year on average
18% less violent crime than Bend
Violent crime is well below the national average (138.6 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 70.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 84°F
Smaller class sizes — 17.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,139,500
Higher rents — median is $2,422/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (3339.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Bend, OR
Pros
Homes cost $563k less ($576,900 vs $1,139,500)
Rent averages $773/mo less ($1,649 vs $2,422)
Violent crime is well below the national average (168.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Bellevue
Cons
Median income trails Bellevue by $66,880/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellevue
Median Income
$66,880
$149,551 vs $82,671/yr
Bellevue
Violent Crime
18% lower
138.6 vs 168.5 per 100k
Bend
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 105.8 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Bend
Median Home Value
$563k less
$576,900 vs $1,139,500
Bend
Summer Heat
7.3°F warmer
July avg high 83.8°F vs 76.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellevue, WA | Bend, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 105.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,139,500⚠ High | $576,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,422⚠ High | $1,649⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $149,551 ✓ Higher | $82,671 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 29.9% ✓ Higher | 19.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 | 53 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 ✓ Safer | 44 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 159⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.0% ✓ Higher | 48.4% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% | 95.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellevue School District | Bend-LaPine Administrative SD 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.4°F ✓ Warmer | 42.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F | 83.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.9" | 10.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" ✓ Less | 21.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 150,606 ✓ Larger | 99,442 |
| Median Age | 38.3 | 39.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.7% | 61.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 20.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.6% | 17.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellevue's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Bend's 105.8 (US average = 100).
Bend is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Bend leads 13 of 22 categories. Bellevue wins 9 and Bend wins 13. 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 Bellevue to Bend or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,139,500 vs $576,900 median home), income ($149,551 vs $82,671), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellevue, WA and Bend, OR are about 248 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.