Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bend, OR
VS
Irvine, CA
🏆 Irvine leads 12 of 23 categories
Bend
Oregon
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,671
Violent Crime Index
44
Population
99,442
Irvine
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$122,948 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
304,527 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bend, OR
Pros
Homes cost $449k less ($576,900 vs $1,025,700)
Rent averages $1100/mo less ($1,649 vs $2,749)
Violent crime is well below the national average (168.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (3.8%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Irvine
Cons
Median income trails Irvine by $40,277/yr
Irvine, CA
Pros
Households earn $40,277 more per year on average
50% less violent crime than Bend
Violent crime is well below the national average (84.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 70.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 43°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,025,700
Higher rents — median is $2,749/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 3.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Bend
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 105.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Bend
Median Home Value
$449k less
$576,900 vs $1,025,700
Bend
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.5% unemployment
Irvine
Median Income
$40,277
$122,948 vs $82,671/yr
Irvine
Violent Crime
50% lower
84.0 vs 168.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bend, OR | Irvine, 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 | $1,025,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,649⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,749⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,671 | $122,948 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 24.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 19.0% | 23.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 66 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 26.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.4% | 70.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% | 96.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bend-LaPine Administrative SD 1 | Irvine Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.5°F | 67.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.8°F | 85.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.6" ✓ Drier | 14.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 21.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,442 | 304,527 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 33.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.2% ✓ Higher | 43.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | 21.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.0% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bend's cost of living index is 105.8 vs Irvine's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Bend is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Irvine leads 12 of 23 categories. Bend wins 11 and Irvine wins 12. 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 Irvine or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,900 vs $1,025,700 median home), income ($82,671 vs $122,948), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bend, OR and Irvine, CA are about 742 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.