Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bend, OR
VS
Birmingham, AL
🏆 Bend leads 15 of 23 categories
Bend
Oregon
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,671 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
99,442
Birmingham
Alabama
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,464
Violent Crime Index
328⚠ High
Population
200,431 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bend, OR
Pros
Households earn $40,207 more per year on average
86% less violent crime than Birmingham
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.7 pts lower (3.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (168.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 48.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,900
Higher rents — median is $1,649/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Birmingham
Birmingham, AL
Pros
Homes cost $454k less ($123,000 vs $576,900)
Rent averages $654/mo less ($995 vs $1,649)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Bend
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.6)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 43°F
Cons
Median income trails Bend by $40,207/yr
Violent crime (1246.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4031.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 3.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Bend
Median Income
$40,207
$82,671 vs $42,464/yr
Bend
Violent Crime
86% lower
168.5 vs 1246.6 per 100k
Bend
Unemployment
3.7 pp lower
3.8% vs 7.5% unemployment
Birmingham
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 92.6 vs 105.8 (100 = US avg)
Birmingham
Median Home Value
$454k less
$123,000 vs $576,900
Birmingham
Summer Heat
7.2°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 83.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bend, OR | Birmingham, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.8⚠ High | 92.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $576,900⚠ High | $123,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,649⚠ High | $995 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,671 ✓ Higher | $42,464 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 21.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 19.0% ✓ Higher | 7.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 274⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 328⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 192⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.0:1 | 19.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.4% ✓ Higher | 29.4% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 88.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bend-LaPine Administrative SD 1 | Birmingham City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.5°F | 54.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.8°F | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.6" ✓ Drier | 58.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 21.6" | 1.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,442 | 200,431 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 35.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.2% ✓ Higher | 45.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% ✓ More | 19.5% |
| Over 65 | 17.0% ✓ More | 16.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bend's cost of living index is 105.8 vs Birmingham's 92.6 (US average = 100).
Birmingham is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bend leads 15 of 23 categories. Bend wins 15 and Birmingham wins 8. 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 Birmingham or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,900 vs $123,000 median home), income ($82,671 vs $42,464), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bend, OR and Birmingham, AL are about 1,978 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.