Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bend, OR
VS
Modesto, CA
🏆 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
Modesto
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,375
Violent Crime Index
173⚠ High
Population
218,308 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bend, OR
Pros
74% less violent crime than Modesto
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.0 pts lower (3.8%)
More college-educated — 48.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Violent crime is well below the national average (168.5 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $9,296 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,900
Higher rents — median is $1,649/mo
Modesto, CA
Pros
Homes cost $195k less ($381,800 vs $576,900)
Rent averages $152/mo less ($1,497 vs $1,649)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 43°F
Cons
Violent crime (655.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Bend by $9,296/yr
Higher unemployment (7.8% vs 3.8%)
Longer commutes — 29.4 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Bend
Median Income
$9,296
$82,671 vs $73,375/yr
Bend
Violent Crime
74% lower
168.5 vs 655.7 per 100k
Bend
Unemployment
4.0 pp lower
3.8% vs 7.8% unemployment
Modesto
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 105.0 vs 105.8 (100 = US avg)
Modesto
Median Home Value
$195k less
$381,800 vs $576,900
Modesto
Summer Heat
11.2°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 83.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bend, OR | Modesto, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.8⚠ High | 105.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $576,900⚠ High | $381,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,649⚠ High | $1,497⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,671 ✓ Higher | $73,375 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 29.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 19.0% ✓ Higher | 6.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 150⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | C- (65) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.4% ✓ Higher | 19.7% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 83.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bend-LaPine Administrative SD 1 | Modesto City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.5°F | 56.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.8°F | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.6" ✓ Drier | 12.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 21.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,442 | 218,308 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.2% ✓ Higher | 57.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | 26.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.0% ✓ More | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bend's cost of living index is 105.8 vs Modesto's 105.0 (US average = 100).
Modesto is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bend leads 15 of 23 categories. Bend wins 15 and Modesto 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 Modesto or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,900 vs $381,800 median home), income ($82,671 vs $73,375), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bend, OR and Modesto, CA are about 444 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.