Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bend, OR
VS
Las Cruces, NM
🏆 Bend leads 13 of 23 categories
Bend
Oregon
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,671 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
99,442
Las Cruces
New Mexico
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,013
Violent Crime Index
189⚠ High
Population
111,273 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bend, OR
Pros
77% less violent crime than Las Cruces
Households earn $31,658 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.7 pts lower (3.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (168.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 48.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,900
Higher rents — median is $1,649/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Las Cruces
Las Cruces, NM
Pros
Homes cost $380k less ($197,200 vs $576,900)
Rent averages $742/mo less ($907 vs $1,649)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Bend
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 43°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.8)
Smaller class sizes — 11.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Bend by $31,658/yr
Violent crime (720.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4873.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 3.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Bend
Median Income
$31,658
$82,671 vs $51,013/yr
Bend
Violent Crime
77% lower
168.5 vs 720.0 per 100k
Bend
Unemployment
3.7 pp lower
3.8% vs 7.5% unemployment
Las Cruces
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 93.8 vs 105.8 (100 = US avg)
Las Cruces
Median Home Value
$380k less
$197,200 vs $576,900
Las Cruces
Summer Heat
11.8°F warmer
July avg high 95.6°F vs 83.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bend, OR | Las Cruces, NM |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.8⚠ High | 93.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $576,900⚠ High | $197,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,649⚠ High | $907 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,671 ✓ Higher | $51,013 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 19.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 19.0% ✓ Higher | 7.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 207⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 189⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 232⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.0:1 | 11.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.4% ✓ Higher | 36.3% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 87.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bend-LaPine Administrative SD 1 | LAS CRUCES |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.5°F | 58.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.8°F | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.6" ✓ Drier | 11.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 21.6" | 1.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,442 | 111,273 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.2% ✓ Higher | 53.8% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.0% ✓ More | 15.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bend's cost of living index is 105.8 vs Las Cruces's 93.8 (US average = 100).
Las Cruces is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bend leads 13 of 23 categories. Bend wins 13 and Las Cruces wins 10. 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 Las Cruces or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,900 vs $197,200 median home), income ($82,671 vs $51,013), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bend, OR and Las Cruces, NM are about 1,127 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.