Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bend, OR
VS
Hemet, CA
🏆 Bend leads 16 of 23 categories
Bend
Oregon
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,671 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
99,442 ✓ Larger
Hemet
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$49,901
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
89,651
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bend, OR
Pros
Households earn $32,770 more per year on average
60% less violent crime than Hemet
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.7 pts lower (3.8%)
Commutes run 20 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 48.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (168.5 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,900
Higher rents — median is $1,649/mo
Hemet, CA
Pros
Homes cost $300k less ($277,200 vs $576,900)
Rent averages $292/mo less ($1,357 vs $1,649)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 43°F
Cons
Median income trails Bend by $32,770/yr
Higher unemployment (9.5% vs 3.8%)
Longer commutes — 36.8 min average each way
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Bend
Key Differences at a Glance
Bend
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 105.8 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Bend
Median Income
$32,770
$82,671 vs $49,901/yr
Bend
Violent Crime
60% lower
168.5 vs 424.8 per 100k
Bend
Unemployment
5.7 pp lower
3.8% vs 9.5% unemployment
Hemet
Median Home Value
$300k less
$277,200 vs $576,900
Hemet
Summer Heat
11.3°F warmer
July avg high 95.1°F vs 83.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bend, OR | Hemet, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $576,900⚠ High | $277,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,649⚠ High | $1,357⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,671 ✓ Higher | $49,901 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 36.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 19.0% ✓ Higher | 7.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 98 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 78 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | C (78) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.4% ✓ Higher | 13.9% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 79.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bend-LaPine Administrative SD 1 | Hemet Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.5°F | 65.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.8°F | 95.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.6" ✓ Drier | 12.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 21.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,442 ✓ Larger | 89,651 |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 39.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.2% ✓ Higher | 61.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.0% | 22.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bend's cost of living index is 105.8 vs Hemet's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Bend is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bend leads 16 of 23 categories. Bend wins 16 and Hemet wins 7. 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 Hemet or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,900 vs $277,200 median home), income ($82,671 vs $49,901), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bend, OR and Hemet, CA are about 750 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.