Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bend, OR
VS
Germantown, MD
🏆 Bend leads 12 of 20 categories
Bend
Oregon
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,671
Violent Crime Index
44
Population
99,442 ✓ Larger
Germantown
Maryland
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,268 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
90,210
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bend, OR
Pros
Commutes run 17 min shorter each way
Violent crime is well below the national average (168.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (3.8%)
Rent averages $259/mo less ($1,649 vs $1,908)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Germantown
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,900
Median income trails Germantown by $26,597/yr
Germantown, MD
Pros
Homes cost $183k less ($393,700 vs $576,900)
Households earn $26,597 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,908/mo
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 3.8%)
Longer commutes — 33.6 min average each way
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Bend
Key Differences at a Glance
Bend
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 105.8 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Bend
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.2% unemployment
Germantown
Median Income
$26,597
$109,268 vs $82,671/yr
Germantown
Median Home Value
$183k less
$393,700 vs $576,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bend, OR | Germantown, MD |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 108.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $576,900⚠ High | $393,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,649⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,908⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,671 | $109,268 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 33.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 19.0% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| 🔒 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) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.0:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.4% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 89.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bend-LaPine Administrative SD 1 | Montgomery County Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.5°F ✓ Warmer | 39.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.8°F | 84.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.6" ✓ Drier | 46.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 21.6" ✓ Less | 32.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,442 ✓ Larger | 90,210 |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 36.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.2% | 65.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | 24.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.0% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bend's cost of living index is 105.8 vs Germantown's 108.6 (US average = 100).
Bend is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Bend leads 12 of 20 categories. Bend wins 12 and Germantown 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 Germantown or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,900 vs $393,700 median home), income ($82,671 vs $109,268), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bend, OR and Germantown, MD are about 2,273 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.