Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bend, OR
VS
Memphis, TN
🏆 Bend leads 14 of 22 categories
Bend
Oregon
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,671 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
99,442
Memphis
Tennessee
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,090
Violent Crime Index
658⚠ High
Population
630,027 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bend, OR
Pros
93% less violent crime than Memphis
Households earn $34,581 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.8 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
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,900
Higher rents — median is $1,649/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Memphis
Memphis, TN
Pros
Homes cost $437k less ($139,600 vs $576,900)
Rent averages $599/mo less ($1,050 vs $1,649)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Bend
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 43°F
Cons
Median income trails Bend by $34,581/yr
Violent crime (2501.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (6899.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 3.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Bend
Median Income
$34,581
$82,671 vs $48,090/yr
Bend
Violent Crime
93% lower
168.5 vs 2501.3 per 100k
Bend
Unemployment
4.8 pp lower
3.8% vs 8.6% unemployment
Memphis
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 105.8 (100 = US avg)
Memphis
Median Home Value
$437k less
$139,600 vs $576,900
Memphis
Summer Heat
8.1°F warmer
July avg high 91.9°F vs 83.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bend, OR | Memphis, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.8⚠ High | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $576,900⚠ High | $139,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,649⚠ High | $1,050 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,671 ✓ Higher | $48,090 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 21.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 19.0% ✓ Higher | 6.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 400⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 658⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 329⚠ 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 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.4% ✓ Higher | 27.9% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 87.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bend-LaPine Administrative SD 1 | Memphis-Shelby County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.5°F | 50.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.8°F | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.6" ✓ Drier | 54.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 21.6" | 2.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,442 | 630,027 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.2% ✓ Higher | 46.6% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.0% ✓ More | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bend's cost of living index is 105.8 vs Memphis's 92.4 (US average = 100).
Memphis is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Bend leads 14 of 22 categories. Bend wins 14 and Memphis 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 Memphis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,900 vs $139,600 median home), income ($82,671 vs $48,090), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bend, OR and Memphis, TN are about 1,767 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.