Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bend, OR
VS
Lancaster, 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
Lancaster
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,367
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
171,465 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bend, OR
Pros
80% less violent crime than Lancaster
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.7 pts lower (3.8%)
Commutes run 14 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)
Households earn $11,304 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,900
Lancaster, CA
Pros
Homes cost $208k less ($368,800 vs $576,900)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 43°F
Cons
Violent crime (834.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Median income trails Bend by $11,304/yr
Higher unemployment (7.5% 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 Income
$11,304
$82,671 vs $71,367/yr
Bend
Violent Crime
80% lower
168.5 vs 834.7 per 100k
Bend
Unemployment
3.7 pp lower
3.8% vs 7.5% unemployment
Lancaster
Median Home Value
$208k less
$368,800 vs $576,900
Lancaster
Summer Heat
13.8°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 83.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bend, OR | Lancaster, 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 | $368,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,649⚠ High | $1,576⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,671 ✓ Higher | $71,367 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 19.0% ✓ Higher | 8.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 168⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 220⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 91 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | C- (63) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.4% ✓ Higher | 19.4% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 81.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bend-LaPine Administrative SD 1 | Lancaster Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.5°F | 58.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.8°F | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.6" | 6.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 21.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,442 | 171,465 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 33.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.2% ✓ Higher | 57.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.0% ✓ More | 11.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bend's cost of living index is 105.8 vs Lancaster's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Bend is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bend leads 15 of 23 categories. Bend wins 15 and Lancaster 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 Lancaster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,900 vs $368,800 median home), income ($82,671 vs $71,367), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bend, OR and Lancaster, CA are about 668 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.