Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bend, OR
VS
Paterson, NJ
🏆 Bend leads 17 of 23 categories
Bend
Oregon
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,671 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
99,442
Paterson
New Jersey
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$52,092
Violent Crime Index
258⚠ High
Population
157,864 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bend, OR
Pros
83% less violent crime than Paterson
Households earn $30,579 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.7 pts lower (3.8%)
More college-educated — 48.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (168.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,900
Higher rents — median is $1,649/mo
Paterson, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $263k less ($314,100 vs $576,900)
Rent averages $257/mo less ($1,392 vs $1,649)
Smaller class sizes — 14.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Bend by $30,579/yr
Violent crime (978.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher unemployment (10.5% vs 3.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Bend
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 105.8 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Bend
Median Income
$30,579
$82,671 vs $52,092/yr
Bend
Violent Crime
83% lower
168.5 vs 978.6 per 100k
Bend
Unemployment
6.7 pp lower
3.8% vs 10.5% unemployment
Paterson
Median Home Value
$263k less
$314,100 vs $576,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bend, OR | Paterson, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $576,900⚠ High | $314,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,649⚠ High | $1,392⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,671 ✓ Higher | $52,092 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 23.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 19.0% ✓ Higher | 3.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 258⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.0:1 | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.4% ✓ Higher | 12.6% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 76.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bend-LaPine Administrative SD 1 | Paterson Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.5°F ✓ Warmer | 39.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.8°F | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.6" ✓ Drier | 49.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 21.6" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,442 | 157,864 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.2% ✓ Higher | 26.3% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | 27.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.0% ✓ More | 11.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bend's cost of living index is 105.8 vs Paterson's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Bend is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bend leads 17 of 23 categories. Bend wins 17 and Paterson wins 6. 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 Paterson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,900 vs $314,100 median home), income ($82,671 vs $52,092), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bend, OR and Paterson, NJ are about 2,379 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.