Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bend, OR
VS
Meridian, ID
🏆 Meridian leads 15 of 23 categories
Bend
Oregon
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,671
Violent Crime Index
44
Population
99,442
Meridian
Idaho
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$93,296 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
119,872 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bend, OR
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (168.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 48.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 93°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,900
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Meridian
Median income trails Meridian by $10,625/yr
Higher unemployment (3.8% vs 2.7%)
Meridian, ID
Pros
Homes cost $151k less ($425,800 vs $576,900)
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.8 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (2.7%)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Bend
Households earn $10,625 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Meridian
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 105.8 (100 = US avg)
Meridian
Median Income
$10,625
$93,296 vs $82,671/yr
Meridian
Violent Crime
13% lower
146.8 vs 168.5 per 100k
Meridian
Median Home Value
$151k less
$425,800 vs $576,900
Meridian
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
2.7% vs 3.8% unemployment
Meridian
Summer Heat
8.9°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 83.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bend, OR | Meridian, ID |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.8⚠ High | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $576,900⚠ High | $425,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,649⚠ High | $1,548⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,671 | $93,296 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High | 2.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 22.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 19.0% ✓ Higher | 14.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 | 27 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.0:1 | 18.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.4% ✓ Higher | 43.5% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% | 96.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bend-LaPine Administrative SD 1 | JOINT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 2 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.5°F ✓ Warmer | 38.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.8°F | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.6" ✓ Drier | 12.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 21.6" | 18.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,442 | 119,872 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 37.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.2% | 76.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | 27.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.0% ✓ More | 13.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bend's cost of living index is 105.8 vs Meridian's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Meridian is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Meridian leads 15 of 23 categories. Bend wins 8 and Meridian wins 15. 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 Meridian or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,900 vs $425,800 median home), income ($82,671 vs $93,296), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bend, OR and Meridian, ID are about 247 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.