Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bend, OR
VS
Cambridge, MA
🏆 Bend leads 15 of 23 categories
Bend
Oregon
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,671
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
99,442
Cambridge
Massachusetts
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$121,539 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High
Population
117,962 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bend, OR
Pros
Homes cost $421k less ($576,900 vs $997,600)
Rent averages $979/mo less ($1,649 vs $2,628)
61% less violent crime than Cambridge
Violent crime is well below the national average (168.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 43°F vs 37°F
Cons
Median income trails Cambridge by $38,868/yr
Cambridge, MA
Pros
Households earn $38,868 more per year on average
More college-educated — 79.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (3.3%)
Smaller class sizes — 9.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $997,600
Higher rents — median is $2,628/mo
Property crime (2644.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Key Differences at a Glance
Bend
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 105.8 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Bend
Violent Crime
61% lower
168.5 vs 436.7 per 100k
Bend
Median Home Value
$421k less
$576,900 vs $997,600
Cambridge
Median Income
$38,868
$121,539 vs $82,671/yr
Cambridge
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
3.3% vs 3.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bend, OR | Cambridge, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $576,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $997,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,649⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,628⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,671 | $121,539 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High | 3.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 26.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 19.0% | 25.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 119⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 126⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | A+ (135) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.0:1 | 9.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.4% | 79.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 95.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bend-LaPine Administrative SD 1 | Cambridge |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.5°F ✓ Warmer | 37.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.8°F | 84.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.6" ✓ Drier | 49.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 21.6" ✓ Less | 49.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,442 | 117,962 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 30.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.2% ✓ Higher | 33.6% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% ✓ More | 12.2% |
| Over 65 | 17.0% ✓ More | 11.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bend's cost of living index is 105.8 vs Cambridge's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Bend is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bend leads 15 of 23 categories. Bend wins 15 and Cambridge 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 Cambridge or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,900 vs $997,600 median home), income ($82,671 vs $121,539), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bend, OR and Cambridge, MA are about 2,490 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.