Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bend, OR
VS
North Charleston, SC
🏆 Bend leads 14 of 23 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
North Charleston
South Carolina
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,534
Violent Crime Index
213⚠ High
Population
115,755 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bend, OR
Pros
79% less violent crime than North Charleston
Households earn $24,137 more per year on average
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 8 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (3.8%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,900
Higher rents — median is $1,649/mo
Cost of living runs 8% higher than North Charleston
North Charleston, SC
Pros
Homes cost $334k less ($243,300 vs $576,900)
Rent averages $361/mo less ($1,288 vs $1,649)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 43°F
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Bend
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Bend by $24,137/yr
Violent crime (810.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3955.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Bend
Median Income
$24,137
$82,671 vs $58,534/yr
Bend
Violent Crime
79% lower
168.5 vs 810.5 per 100k
Bend
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
3.8% vs 4.3% unemployment
North Charleston
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 98.2 vs 105.8 (100 = US avg)
North Charleston
Median Home Value
$334k less
$243,300 vs $576,900
North Charleston
Summer Heat
7.5°F warmer
July avg high 91.3°F vs 83.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bend, OR | North Charleston, SC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.8⚠ High | 98.2 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $576,900⚠ High | $243,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,649⚠ High | $1,288 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,671 ✓ Higher | $58,534 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 24.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 19.0% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 203⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 213⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 188⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.0:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.4% ✓ Higher | 26.7% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 87.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bend-LaPine Administrative SD 1 | Charleston 01 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.5°F | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.8°F | 91.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.6" ✓ Drier | 53.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 21.6" | 0.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,442 | 115,755 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 33.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.2% ✓ Higher | 49.4% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.0% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bend's cost of living index is 105.8 vs North Charleston's 98.2 (US average = 100).
North Charleston is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bend leads 14 of 23 categories. Bend wins 14 and North Charleston wins 9. 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 North Charleston or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,900 vs $243,300 median home), income ($82,671 vs $58,534), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bend, OR and North Charleston, SC are about 2,332 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.