Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bend, OR
VS
Fresno, CA
🏆 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
Fresno
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,001
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
541,528 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bend, OR
Pros
77% less violent crime than Fresno
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.2 pts lower (3.8%)
Households earn $19,670 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (168.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 48.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,900
Higher rents — median is $1,649/mo
Fresno, CA
Pros
Homes cost $255k less ($321,800 vs $576,900)
Rent averages $422/mo less ($1,227 vs $1,649)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 43°F
Cons
Violent crime (735.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Bend by $19,670/yr
Property crime (3271.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.0% vs 3.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Bend
Median Income
$19,670
$82,671 vs $63,001/yr
Bend
Violent Crime
77% lower
168.5 vs 735.5 per 100k
Bend
Unemployment
5.2 pp lower
3.8% vs 9.0% unemployment
Fresno
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 105.0 vs 105.8 (100 = US avg)
Fresno
Median Home Value
$255k less
$321,800 vs $576,900
Fresno
Summer Heat
13.9°F warmer
July avg high 97.7°F vs 83.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bend, OR | Fresno, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.8⚠ High | 105.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $576,900⚠ High | $321,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,649⚠ High | $1,227 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,671 ✓ Higher | $63,001 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 22.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 19.0% ✓ Higher | 8.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 194⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 156⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.0:1 | 19.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.4% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 79.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bend-LaPine Administrative SD 1 | Fresno Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.5°F | 55.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.8°F | 97.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.6" ✓ Drier | 11.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 21.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,442 | 541,528 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 32.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.2% ✓ Higher | 48.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.0% ✓ More | 11.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bend's cost of living index is 105.8 vs Fresno's 105.0 (US average = 100).
Fresno is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bend leads 14 of 23 categories. Bend wins 14 and Fresno 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 Fresno or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,900 vs $321,800 median home), income ($82,671 vs $63,001), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bend, OR and Fresno, CA are about 509 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.