Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bend, OR
VS
Las Vegas, NV
🏆 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 Vegas
Nevada
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,356
Violent Crime Index
113⚠ High
Population
644,835 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bend, OR
Pros
61% less violent crime than Las Vegas
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (3.8%)
Households earn $16,315 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (168.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 48.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,900
Higher rents — median is $1,649/mo
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Las Vegas
Las Vegas, NV
Pros
Homes cost $212k less ($365,300 vs $576,900)
Rent averages $293/mo less ($1,356 vs $1,649)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 43°F
Smaller class sizes — 18.3:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Bend
Cons
Median income trails Bend by $16,315/yr
Property crime (2622.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.4% vs 3.8%)
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Bend
Median Income
$16,315
$82,671 vs $66,356/yr
Bend
Violent Crime
61% lower
168.5 vs 429.8 per 100k
Bend
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
3.8% vs 7.4% unemployment
Las Vegas
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 101.6 vs 105.8 (100 = US avg)
Las Vegas
Median Home Value
$212k less
$365,300 vs $576,900
Las Vegas
Summer Heat
20.0°F warmer
July avg high 103.8°F vs 83.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bend, OR | Las Vegas, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.8⚠ High | 101.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $576,900⚠ High | $365,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,649⚠ High | $1,356⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,671 ✓ Higher | $66,356 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 25.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 19.0% ✓ Higher | 9.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 118⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 113⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 125⚠ 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 | 18.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.4% ✓ Higher | 26.3% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 85.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bend-LaPine Administrative SD 1 | Clark County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.5°F | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.8°F | 103.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.6" | 6.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 21.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,442 | 644,835 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 38.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.2% ✓ Higher | 54.8% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | 22.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.0% ✓ More | 15.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bend's cost of living index is 105.8 vs Las Vegas's 101.6 (US average = 100).
Las Vegas is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bend leads 13 of 23 categories. Bend wins 13 and Las Vegas 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 Vegas or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,900 vs $365,300 median home), income ($82,671 vs $66,356), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bend, OR and Las Vegas, NV are about 627 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.