Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bend, OR
VS
Norman, OK
🏆 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
Norman
Oklahoma
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,849
Violent Crime Index
68
Population
127,701 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bend, OR
Pros
35% less violent crime than Norman
Households earn $19,822 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (168.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (3.8%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 93°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,900
Higher rents — median is $1,649/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Norman
Norman, OK
Pros
Homes cost $352k less ($224,900 vs $576,900)
Rent averages $645/mo less ($1,004 vs $1,649)
Violent crime is well below the national average (260.2 vs 380/100k)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Bend
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Milder winters — January highs near 50°F vs 43°F
Cons
Median income trails Bend by $19,822/yr
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 3.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Bend
Median Income
$19,822
$82,671 vs $62,849/yr
Bend
Violent Crime
35% lower
168.5 vs 260.2 per 100k
Bend
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.8% unemployment
Norman
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 105.8 (100 = US avg)
Norman
Median Home Value
$352k less
$224,900 vs $576,900
Norman
Summer Heat
8.7°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 83.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bend, OR | Norman, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.8⚠ High | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $576,900⚠ High | $224,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,649⚠ High | $1,004 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,671 ✓ Higher | $62,849 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 22.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 19.0% ✓ Higher | 9.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 84 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 68 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 108⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.0:1 | 16.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.4% ✓ Higher | 45.6% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 94.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bend-LaPine Administrative SD 1 | NORMAN |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.5°F | 49.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.8°F | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.6" ✓ Drier | 37.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 21.6" | 4.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,442 | 127,701 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 31.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.2% ✓ Higher | 52.4% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% ✓ More | 18.1% |
| Over 65 | 17.0% ✓ More | 13.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bend's cost of living index is 105.8 vs Norman's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Norman is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Bend leads 14 of 22 categories. Bend wins 14 and Norman 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 Norman or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,900 vs $224,900 median home), income ($82,671 vs $62,849), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bend, OR and Norman, OK are about 1,406 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.