Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bend, OR
VS
Fullerton, CA
🏆 Bend leads 17 of 23 categories
Bend
Oregon
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,671
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
99,442
Fullerton
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,279 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High
Population
142,280 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bend, OR
Pros
63% less violent crime than Fullerton
Homes cost $214k less ($576,900 vs $791,000)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (3.8%)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Violent crime is well below the national average (168.5 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $340/mo less ($1,649 vs $1,989)
Cons
Median income trails Fullerton by $16,608/yr
Fullerton, CA
Pros
Households earn $16,608 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 43°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $791,000
Violent crime (455.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,989/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Bend
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 105.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Bend
Violent Crime
63% lower
168.5 vs 455.3 per 100k
Bend
Median Home Value
$214k less
$576,900 vs $791,000
Bend
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
3.8% vs 6.9% unemployment
Fullerton
Median Income
$16,608
$99,279 vs $82,671/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bend, OR | Fullerton, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $576,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $791,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,649⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,989⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,671 | $99,279 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 30.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 19.0% ✓ Higher | 11.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 110⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 120⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 96 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.4% ✓ Higher | 44.0% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 89.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bend-LaPine Administrative SD 1 | Fullerton Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.5°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.8°F | 84.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.6" ✓ Drier | 11.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 21.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,442 | 142,280 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 35.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.2% ✓ Higher | 51.6% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | 22.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.0% ✓ More | 13.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bend's cost of living index is 105.8 vs Fullerton's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Bend is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bend leads 17 of 23 categories. Bend wins 17 and Fullerton wins 6. 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 Fullerton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,900 vs $791,000 median home), income ($82,671 vs $99,279), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bend, OR and Fullerton, CA are about 726 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.