Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bend, OR
VS
Fort Lauderdale, FL
🏆 Bend leads 12 of 20 categories
Bend
Oregon
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,671 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44
Population
99,442
Fort Lauderdale
Florida
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$75,376
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
182,673 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bend, OR
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (168.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (3.8%)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 48.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $7,295 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,900
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Pros
Homes cost $159k less ($417,600 vs $576,900)
Milder winters — January highs near 77°F vs 43°F
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 3.8%)
Median income trails Bend by $7,295/yr
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Bend
Key Differences at a Glance
Bend
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 105.8 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Bend
Median Income
$7,295
$82,671 vs $75,376/yr
Bend
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.4% unemployment
Fort Lauderdale
Median Home Value
$159k less
$417,600 vs $576,900
Fort Lauderdale
Summer Heat
6.7°F warmer
July avg high 90.5°F vs 83.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bend, OR | Fort Lauderdale, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $576,900⚠ High | $417,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,649⚠ High | $1,627⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,671 ✓ Higher | $75,376 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 26.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 19.0% ✓ Higher | 14.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.4% ✓ Higher | 40.3% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 89.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bend-LaPine Administrative SD 1 | BROWARD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.5°F | 76.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.8°F | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.6" ✓ Drier | 63.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 21.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,442 | 182,673 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.5 | 43.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.2% ✓ Higher | 54.2% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% ✓ More | 16.9% |
| Over 65 | 17.0% | 19.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bend's cost of living index is 105.8 vs Fort Lauderdale's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Bend is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Bend leads 12 of 20 categories. Bend wins 12 and Fort Lauderdale wins 8. 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 Fort Lauderdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,900 vs $417,600 median home), income ($82,671 vs $75,376), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bend, OR and Fort Lauderdale, FL are about 2,599 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.