Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bend, OR
VS
Chico, CA
🏆 Bend leads 14 of 23 categories
Bend
Oregon
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,671 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
99,442
Chico
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$65,932
Violent Crime Index
184⚠ High
Population
102,790 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bend, OR
Pros
76% less violent crime than Chico
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (3.8%)
Households earn $16,739 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (168.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 48.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 95°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,900
Higher rents — median is $1,649/mo
Chico, CA
Pros
Homes cost $149k less ($427,600 vs $576,900)
Rent averages $289/mo less ($1,360 vs $1,649)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 43°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (699.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Bend by $16,739/yr
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 3.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Bend
Median Income
$16,739
$82,671 vs $65,932/yr
Bend
Violent Crime
76% lower
168.5 vs 699.2 per 100k
Bend
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
3.8% vs 6.9% unemployment
Chico
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 104.6 vs 105.8 (100 = US avg)
Chico
Median Home Value
$149k less
$427,600 vs $576,900
Chico
Summer Heat
11.4°F warmer
July avg high 95.2°F vs 83.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bend, OR | Chico, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.8⚠ High | 104.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $576,900⚠ High | $427,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,649⚠ High | $1,360⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,671 ✓ Higher | $65,932 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 17.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 19.0% ✓ Higher | 11.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 147⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 184⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 90 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.0:1 | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.4% ✓ Higher | 41.3% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 93.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bend-LaPine Administrative SD 1 | Inspire School of Arts and Sciences District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.5°F | 56.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.8°F | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.6" ✓ Drier | 28.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 21.6" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,442 | 102,790 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 30.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.2% ✓ Higher | 44.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% ✓ More | 18.7% |
| Over 65 | 17.0% ✓ More | 13.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bend's cost of living index is 105.8 vs Chico's 104.6 (US average = 100).
Chico is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bend leads 14 of 23 categories. Bend wins 14 and Chico 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 Chico or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,900 vs $427,600 median home), income ($82,671 vs $65,932), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bend, OR and Chico, CA are about 298 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.