Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bend, OR
VS
Hesperia, CA
🏆 Bend leads 15 of 23 categories
Bend
Oregon
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,671 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
99,442
Hesperia
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,698
Violent Crime Index
137⚠ High
Population
99,878 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bend, OR
Pros
68% less violent crime than Hesperia
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.0 pts lower (3.8%)
Commutes run 25 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 48.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $14,973 more per year on average
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
Hesperia, CA
Pros
Homes cost $239k less ($337,600 vs $576,900)
Rent averages $213/mo less ($1,436 vs $1,649)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 43°F
Cons
Violent crime (519.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Bend by $14,973/yr
Higher unemployment (9.8% vs 3.8%)
Longer commutes — 42.4 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Bend
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 105.8 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Bend
Median Income
$14,973
$82,671 vs $67,698/yr
Bend
Violent Crime
68% lower
168.5 vs 519.6 per 100k
Bend
Unemployment
6.0 pp lower
3.8% vs 9.8% unemployment
Hesperia
Median Home Value
$239k less
$337,600 vs $576,900
Hesperia
Summer Heat
13.0°F warmer
July avg high 96.8°F vs 83.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bend, OR | Hesperia, 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 | $337,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,649⚠ High | $1,436⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,671 ✓ Higher | $67,698 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 42.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 19.0% ✓ Higher | 8.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 109⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 137⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 68 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.4% ✓ Higher | 10.9% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 78.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bend-LaPine Administrative SD 1 | Hesperia Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.5°F | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.8°F | 96.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.6" ✓ Drier | 11.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 21.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,442 | 99,878 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 32.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.2% | 63.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | 29.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.0% ✓ More | 9.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bend's cost of living index is 105.8 vs Hesperia's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Bend is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bend leads 15 of 23 categories. Bend wins 15 and Hesperia 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 Hesperia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,900 vs $337,600 median home), income ($82,671 vs $67,698), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bend, OR and Hesperia, CA are about 701 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.