Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bend, OR
VS
Berkeley, CA
🏆 Bend leads 14 of 23 categories
Bend
Oregon
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,671
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
99,442
Berkeley
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,716 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
168⚠ High
Population
121,385 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bend, OR
Pros
Homes cost $703k less ($576,900 vs $1,280,300)
74% less violent crime than Berkeley
Rent averages $418/mo less ($1,649 vs $2,067)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Violent crime is well below the national average (168.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (3.8%)
Cons
Median income trails Berkeley by $22,045/yr
Berkeley, CA
Pros
Households earn $22,045 more per year on average
More college-educated — 73.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 43°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 74°F vs 84°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,280,300
Violent crime (638.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $2,067/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Key Differences at a Glance
Bend
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 105.8 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Bend
Violent Crime
74% lower
168.5 vs 638.8 per 100k
Bend
Median Home Value
$703k less
$576,900 vs $1,280,300
Bend
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.5% unemployment
Bend
Summer Heat
9.6°F warmer
July avg high 83.8°F vs 74.2°F
Berkeley
Median Income
$22,045
$104,716 vs $82,671/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bend, OR | Berkeley, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $576,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,280,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,649⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,067⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,671 | $104,716 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 30.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 19.0% | 28.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 200⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 168⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 249⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | A- (110) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.0:1 | 19.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.4% | 73.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% | 96.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bend-LaPine Administrative SD 1 | Berkeley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.5°F | 58.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.8°F ✓ Warmer | 74.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.6" ✓ Drier | 26.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 21.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,442 | 121,385 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 32.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.2% ✓ Higher | 43.3% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% ✓ More | 12.2% |
| Over 65 | 17.0% ✓ More | 15.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bend's cost of living index is 105.8 vs Berkeley's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Bend is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bend leads 14 of 23 categories. Bend wins 14 and Berkeley wins 9. 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 Bend to Berkeley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,900 vs $1,280,300 median home), income ($82,671 vs $104,716), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bend, OR and Berkeley, CA are about 431 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.