Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bend, OR
VS
Indianapolis, IN
🏆 Bend leads 17 of 23 categories
Bend
Oregon
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,671 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
99,442
Indianapolis
Indiana
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,110
Violent Crime Index
231⚠ High
Population
882,006 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bend, OR
Pros
81% less violent crime than Indianapolis
Households earn $23,561 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (168.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (3.8%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 48.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,900
Higher rents — median is $1,649/mo
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Indianapolis
Indianapolis, IN
Pros
Homes cost $392k less ($184,600 vs $576,900)
Rent averages $603/mo less ($1,046 vs $1,649)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Bend
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.6)
Smaller class sizes — 12.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Bend by $23,561/yr
Violent crime (877.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3336.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 3.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Bend
Median Income
$23,561
$82,671 vs $59,110/yr
Bend
Violent Crime
81% lower
168.5 vs 877.9 per 100k
Bend
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.6% unemployment
Indianapolis
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 94.6 vs 105.8 (100 = US avg)
Indianapolis
Median Home Value
$392k less
$184,600 vs $576,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bend, OR | Indianapolis, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.8⚠ High | 94.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $576,900⚠ High | $184,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,649⚠ High | $1,046 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,671 ✓ Higher | $59,110 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 24.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 19.0% ✓ Higher | 10.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 202⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 231⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 159⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.0:1 | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.4% ✓ Higher | 33.4% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 87.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bend-LaPine Administrative SD 1 | Indianapolis Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.5°F ✓ Warmer | 34.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.8°F ✓ Warmer | 83.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.6" ✓ Drier | 41.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 21.6" ✓ Less | 25.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,442 | 882,006 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 34.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.2% ✓ Higher | 54.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.0% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bend's cost of living index is 105.8 vs Indianapolis's 94.6 (US average = 100).
Indianapolis is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bend leads 17 of 23 categories. Bend wins 17 and Indianapolis 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 Indianapolis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,900 vs $184,600 median home), income ($82,671 vs $59,110), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bend, OR and Indianapolis, IN are about 1,818 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.