Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bend, OR
VS
Port St. Lucie, FL
🏆 Port St. Lucie leads 13 of 22 categories
Bend
Oregon
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,671 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44
Population
99,442
Port St. Lucie
Florida
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$75,040
Violent Crime Index
31 ✓ Safer
Population
210,520 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bend, OR
Pros
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Violent crime is well below the national average (168.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (3.8%)
More college-educated — 48.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $7,631 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,900
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Port St. Lucie
Port St. Lucie, FL
Pros
Homes cost $284k less ($292,900 vs $576,900)
31% less violent crime than Bend
Violent crime is well below the national average (116.7 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 73°F vs 43°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Bend
Cons
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 3.8%)
Median income trails Bend by $7,631/yr
Longer commutes — 29.2 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Bend
Median Income
$7,631
$82,671 vs $75,040/yr
Bend
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.7% unemployment
Port St. Lucie
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 101.7 vs 105.8 (100 = US avg)
Port St. Lucie
Violent Crime
31% lower
116.7 vs 168.5 per 100k
Port St. Lucie
Median Home Value
$284k less
$292,900 vs $576,900
Port St. Lucie
Summer Heat
4.8°F warmer
July avg high 88.6°F vs 83.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bend, OR | Port St. Lucie, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.8⚠ High | 101.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $576,900⚠ High | $292,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,649⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,684⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,671 ✓ Higher | $75,040 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 29.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 19.0% ✓ Higher | 9.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 | 33 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 | 31 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 | 36 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.0:1 | 19.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.4% ✓ Higher | 26.2% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 90.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bend-LaPine Administrative SD 1 | ST. LUCIE |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.5°F | 73.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.8°F | 88.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.6" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 21.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,442 | 210,520 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.5 | 43.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.2% | 82.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 17.0% | 21.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bend's cost of living index is 105.8 vs Port St. Lucie's 101.7 (US average = 100).
Port St. Lucie is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Port St. Lucie leads 13 of 22 categories. Bend wins 9 and Port St. Lucie wins 13. 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 Port St. Lucie or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,900 vs $292,900 median home), income ($82,671 vs $75,040), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bend, OR and Port St. Lucie, FL are about 2,539 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.