Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bend, OR
VS
Chicago, IL
🏆 Bend leads 17 of 23 categories
Bend
Oregon
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,671 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
99,442
Chicago
Illinois
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,673
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High
Population
2,721,914 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bend, OR
Pros
69% less violent crime than Chicago
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.4 pts lower (3.8%)
Commutes run 17 min shorter each way
Violent crime is well below the national average (168.5 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $10,998 more per year on average
More college-educated — 48.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,900
Higher rents — median is $1,649/mo
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Chicago
Chicago, IL
Pros
Homes cost $272k less ($304,500 vs $576,900)
Rent averages $335/mo less ($1,314 vs $1,649)
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Bend
Cons
Violent crime (539.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Bend by $10,998/yr
Property crime (3472.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 3.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Bend
Median Income
$10,998
$82,671 vs $71,673/yr
Bend
Violent Crime
69% lower
168.5 vs 539.8 per 100k
Bend
Unemployment
4.4 pp lower
3.8% vs 8.2% unemployment
Chicago
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 105.8 (100 = US avg)
Chicago
Median Home Value
$272k less
$304,500 vs $576,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bend, OR | Chicago, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.8⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $576,900⚠ High | $304,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,649⚠ High | $1,314 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,671 ✓ Higher | $71,673 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 34.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 19.0% ✓ Higher | 15.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 142⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 165⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | A (118) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.0:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.4% ✓ Higher | 42.4% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 86.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bend-LaPine Administrative SD 1 | Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.5°F ✓ Warmer | 31.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.8°F ✓ Warmer | 81.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.6" ✓ Drier | 34.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 21.6" ✓ Less | 38.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,442 | 2,721,914 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 35.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.2% ✓ Higher | 45.6% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% ✓ More | 20.0% |
| Over 65 | 17.0% ✓ More | 13.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bend's cost of living index is 105.8 vs Chicago's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Chicago is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bend leads 17 of 23 categories. Bend wins 17 and Chicago wins 6. 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 Chicago or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,900 vs $304,500 median home), income ($82,671 vs $71,673), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bend, OR and Chicago, IL are about 1,696 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.