Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bend, OR
VS
Fort Wayne, IN
🏆 Bend leads 15 of 23 categories
Bend
Oregon
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,671 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
99,442
Fort Wayne
Indiana
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,233
Violent Crime Index
81
Population
264,514 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bend, OR
Pros
45% less violent crime than Fort Wayne
Households earn $24,438 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (168.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (3.8%)
More college-educated — 48.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,900
Higher rents — median is $1,649/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne, IN
Pros
Homes cost $424k less ($152,500 vs $576,900)
Rent averages $745/mo less ($904 vs $1,649)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Bend
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Smaller class sizes — 13.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Bend by $24,438/yr
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 3.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Bend
Median Income
$24,438
$82,671 vs $58,233/yr
Bend
Violent Crime
45% lower
168.5 vs 307.5 per 100k
Bend
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.8% unemployment
Fort Wayne
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 105.8 (100 = US avg)
Fort Wayne
Median Home Value
$424k less
$152,500 vs $576,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bend, OR | Fort Wayne, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.8⚠ High | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $576,900⚠ High | $152,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,649⚠ High | $904 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,671 ✓ Higher | $58,233 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 21.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 19.0% ✓ Higher | 6.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 91 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 81 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 106⚠ 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 | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.4% ✓ Higher | 28.1% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 88.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bend-LaPine Administrative SD 1 | Fort Wayne Community Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.5°F ✓ Warmer | 32.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.8°F | 84.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.6" ✓ Drier | 38.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 21.6" ✓ Less | 33.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,442 | 264,514 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 35.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.2% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | 24.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.0% ✓ More | 14.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bend's cost of living index is 105.8 vs Fort Wayne's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Fort Wayne is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bend leads 15 of 23 categories. Bend wins 15 and Fort Wayne 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 Wayne or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,900 vs $152,500 median home), income ($82,671 vs $58,233), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bend, OR and Fort Wayne, IN are about 1,837 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.