Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bend, OR
VS
Eugene, OR
🏆 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
Eugene
Oregon
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,481
Violent Crime Index
84
Population
176,755 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bend, OR
Pros
47% less violent crime than Eugene
Households earn $21,190 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 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
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,900
Higher rents — median is $1,649/mo
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Eugene
Eugene, OR
Pros
Homes cost $171k less ($406,000 vs $576,900)
Rent averages $380/mo less ($1,269 vs $1,649)
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 43°F
Smaller class sizes — 17.1:1 student-teacher ratio
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Bend
Cons
Median income trails Bend by $21,190/yr
Property crime (3255.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.1% vs 3.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Bend
Median Income
$21,190
$82,671 vs $61,481/yr
Bend
Violent Crime
47% lower
168.5 vs 317.9 per 100k
Bend
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
3.8% vs 7.1% unemployment
Eugene
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 103.8 vs 105.8 (100 = US avg)
Eugene
Median Home Value
$171k less
$406,000 vs $576,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bend, OR | Eugene, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.8⚠ High | 103.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $576,900⚠ High | $406,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,649⚠ High | $1,269 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,671 ✓ Higher | $61,481 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 18.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 19.0% ✓ Higher | 13.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 84 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.0:1 | 17.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.4% ✓ Higher | 44.2% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 94.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bend-LaPine Administrative SD 1 | Eugene SD 4J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.5°F | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.8°F | 84.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.6" ✓ Drier | 45.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 21.6" | 2.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,442 | 176,755 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 35.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.2% ✓ Higher | 47.8% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% ✓ More | 16.3% |
| Over 65 | 17.0% | 17.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bend's cost of living index is 105.8 vs Eugene's 103.8 (US average = 100).
Eugene is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bend leads 14 of 23 categories. Bend wins 14 and Eugene 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 Eugene or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,900 vs $406,000 median home), income ($82,671 vs $61,481), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bend, OR and Eugene, OR are about 90 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.