Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bend, OR
VS
Kent, WA
🏆 Bend leads 16 of 23 categories
Bend
Oregon
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,671
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
99,442
Kent
Washington
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,966 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
135,169 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bend, OR
Pros
66% less violent crime than Kent
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.8 pts lower (3.8%)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Violent crime is well below the national average (168.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 48.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Kent
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,900
Median income trails Kent by $4,295/yr
Kent, WA
Pros
Homes cost $99k less ($478,400 vs $576,900)
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 43°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 84°F
Smaller class sizes — 18.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Households earn $4,295 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (489.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (3771.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.6% vs 3.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Bend
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 105.8 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Bend
Violent Crime
66% lower
168.5 vs 489.7 per 100k
Bend
Unemployment
3.8 pp lower
3.8% vs 7.6% unemployment
Bend
Summer Heat
5.5°F warmer
July avg high 83.8°F vs 78.3°F
Kent
Median Income
$4,295
$86,966 vs $82,671/yr
Kent
Median Home Value
$99k less
$478,400 vs $576,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bend, OR | Kent, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $576,900⚠ High | $478,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,649⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,742⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,671 | $86,966 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 19.0% ✓ Higher | 10.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 149⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 180⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.0:1 | 18.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.4% ✓ Higher | 27.9% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 87.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bend-LaPine Administrative SD 1 | Kent School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.5°F | 48.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.8°F ✓ Warmer | 78.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.6" ✓ Drier | 44.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 21.6" | 6.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,442 | 135,169 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.2% ✓ Higher | 55.8% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.0% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bend's cost of living index is 105.8 vs Kent's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Bend is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bend leads 16 of 23 categories. Bend wins 16 and Kent 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 Kent or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,900 vs $478,400 median home), income ($82,671 vs $86,966), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bend, OR and Kent, WA are about 234 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.