Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bend, OR
VS
Fairfield, CA
🏆 Bend leads 16 of 23 categories
Bend
Oregon
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,671
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
99,442
Fairfield
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,857 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High
Population
119,420 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bend, OR
Pros
66% less violent crime than Fairfield
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
Rent averages $398/mo less ($1,649 vs $2,047)
Violent crime is well below the national average (168.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (3.8%)
More college-educated — 48.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Fairfield by $16,186/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $576,900
Fairfield, CA
Pros
Households earn $16,186 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 43°F
Homes cost $31k less ($546,200 vs $576,900)
Cons
Violent crime (498.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $2,047/mo
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 3.8%)
Longer commutes — 32.3 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Bend
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 105.8 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Bend
Violent Crime
66% lower
168.5 vs 498.0 per 100k
Bend
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.5% unemployment
Fairfield
Median Income
$16,186
$98,857 vs $82,671/yr
Fairfield
Median Home Value
$31k less
$546,200 vs $576,900
Fairfield
Summer Heat
5.8°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 83.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bend, OR | Fairfield, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 109.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $576,900⚠ High | $546,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,649⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,047⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,671 | $98,857 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 32.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 19.0% ✓ Higher | 9.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 131⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 80 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.4% ✓ Higher | 27.8% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 87.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bend-LaPine Administrative SD 1 | Fairfield-Suisun Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.5°F | 56.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.8°F | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.6" ✓ Drier | 24.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 21.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,442 | 119,420 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 35.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.2% ✓ Higher | 60.3% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | 24.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.0% ✓ More | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bend's cost of living index is 105.8 vs Fairfield's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Bend is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bend leads 16 of 23 categories. Bend wins 16 and Fairfield wins 7. 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 Fairfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,900 vs $546,200 median home), income ($82,671 vs $98,857), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bend, OR and Fairfield, CA are about 402 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.