Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bend, OR
VS
Dallas, TX
🏆 Bend leads 13 of 23 categories
Bend
Oregon
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,671 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
99,442
Dallas
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,985
Violent Crime Index
173⚠ High
Population
1,300,642 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bend, OR
Pros
74% less violent crime than Dallas
Households earn $18,686 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (168.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (3.8%)
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 Dallas
Dallas, TX
Pros
Homes cost $306k less ($270,700 vs $576,900)
Rent averages $344/mo less ($1,305 vs $1,649)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 43°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Bend
Cons
Violent crime (658.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Bend by $18,686/yr
Property crime (3351.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 3.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Bend
Median Income
$18,686
$82,671 vs $63,985/yr
Bend
Violent Crime
74% lower
168.5 vs 658.2 per 100k
Bend
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.0% unemployment
Dallas
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 105.8 (100 = US avg)
Dallas
Median Home Value
$306k less
$270,700 vs $576,900
Dallas
Summer Heat
13.1°F warmer
July avg high 96.9°F vs 83.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bend, OR | Dallas, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.8⚠ High | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $576,900⚠ High | $270,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,649⚠ High | $1,305 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,671 ✓ Higher | $63,985 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 26.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 19.0% ✓ Higher | 11.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 168⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 160⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.0:1 | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.4% ✓ Higher | 36.5% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 80.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bend-LaPine Administrative SD 1 | DALLAS ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.5°F | 57.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.8°F | 96.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.6" ✓ Drier | 41.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 21.6" | 1.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,442 | 1,300,642 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.2% ✓ Higher | 41.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | 24.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.0% ✓ More | 11.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bend's cost of living index is 105.8 vs Dallas's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Dallas is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bend leads 13 of 23 categories. Bend wins 13 and Dallas wins 10. 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 Dallas or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,900 vs $270,700 median home), income ($82,671 vs $63,985), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bend, OR and Dallas, TX are about 1,531 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.