Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bend, OR
VS
Lynn, MA
🏆 Bend leads 17 of 23 categories
Bend
Oregon
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,671 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
99,442
Lynn
Massachusetts
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$70,046
Violent Crime Index
151⚠ High
Population
100,653 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bend, OR
Pros
71% less violent crime than Lynn
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)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (3.8%)
Households earn $12,625 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,900
Higher rents — median is $1,649/mo
Lynn, MA
Pros
Homes cost $134k less ($442,800 vs $576,900)
Rent averages $138/mo less ($1,511 vs $1,649)
Smaller class sizes — 12.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (574.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Bend by $12,625/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 3.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Bend
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 105.8 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Bend
Median Income
$12,625
$82,671 vs $70,046/yr
Bend
Violent Crime
71% lower
168.5 vs 574.6 per 100k
Bend
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.7% unemployment
Bend
Summer Heat
3.5°F warmer
July avg high 83.8°F vs 80.3°F
Lynn
Median Home Value
$134k less
$442,800 vs $576,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bend, OR | Lynn, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $576,900⚠ High | $442,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,649⚠ High | $1,511⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,671 ✓ Higher | $70,046 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 19.0% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 113⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.0:1 | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.4% ✓ Higher | 21.9% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 77.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bend-LaPine Administrative SD 1 | Lynn |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.5°F ✓ Warmer | 36.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.8°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.6" ✓ Drier | 47.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 21.6" ✓ Less | 39.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,442 | 100,653 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 36.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.2% ✓ Higher | 48.6% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.0% ✓ More | 13.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bend's cost of living index is 105.8 vs Lynn's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Bend is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bend leads 17 of 23 categories. Bend wins 17 and Lynn wins 6. 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 Lynn or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,900 vs $442,800 median home), income ($82,671 vs $70,046), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bend, OR and Lynn, MA are about 2,495 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.