Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bend, OR
VS
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY
🏆 Bend leads 15 of 23 categories
Bend
Oregon
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,671 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
99,442
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Kentucky
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,114
Violent Crime Index
186⚠ High
Population
629,176 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bend, OR
Pros
76% less violent crime than Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Households earn $19,557 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (168.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (3.8%)
More college-educated — 48.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,900
Higher rents — median is $1,649/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY
Pros
Homes cost $372k less ($204,800 vs $576,900)
Rent averages $635/mo less ($1,014 vs $1,649)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Bend
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.0)
Smaller class sizes — 15.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (707.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Bend by $19,557/yr
Property crime (3326.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 3.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Bend
Median Income
$19,557
$82,671 vs $63,114/yr
Bend
Violent Crime
76% lower
168.5 vs 707.4 per 100k
Bend
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.3% unemployment
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 94.0 vs 105.8 (100 = US avg)
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Median Home Value
$372k less
$204,800 vs $576,900
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Summer Heat
3.5°F warmer
July avg high 87.3°F vs 83.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bend, OR | Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.8⚠ High | 94.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $576,900⚠ High | $204,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,649⚠ High | $1,014 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,671 ✓ Higher | $63,114 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 22.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 19.0% ✓ Higher | 10.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 175⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 186⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 158⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.0:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.4% ✓ Higher | 32.9% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 90.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bend-LaPine Administrative SD 1 | Jefferson County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.5°F ✓ Warmer | 42.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.8°F | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.6" ✓ Drier | 53.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 21.6" | 15.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,442 | 629,176 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 37.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.2% ✓ Higher | 60.4% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | 22.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.0% ✓ More | 15.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bend's cost of living index is 105.8 vs Louisville/Jefferson County metro government's 94.0 (US average = 100).
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bend leads 15 of 23 categories. Bend wins 15 and Louisville/Jefferson County metro government 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 Louisville/Jefferson County metro government or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,900 vs $204,800 median home), income ($82,671 vs $63,114), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bend, OR and Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY are about 1,885 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
Related Comparisons
Bend, OR vs Beaverton, OR
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY vs Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
Bend, OR vs Hillsboro, OR
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY vs Memphis, TN
Bend, OR vs Gresham, OR
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY vs Detroit, MI
Bend, OR vs Salem, OR
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY vs Las Vegas, NV