Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bend, OR
VS
Providence, RI
🏆 Bend leads 18 of 23 categories
Bend
Oregon
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,671 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
99,442
Providence
Rhode Island
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,365
Violent Crime Index
73
Population
189,715 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bend, OR
Pros
39% less violent crime than Providence
Households earn $21,306 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (3.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (168.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 48.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,900
Higher rents — median is $1,649/mo
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Providence
Providence, RI
Pros
Homes cost $284k less ($293,000 vs $576,900)
Rent averages $435/mo less ($1,214 vs $1,649)
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Bend
Cons
Median income trails Bend by $21,306/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 3.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Bend
Median Income
$21,306
$82,671 vs $61,365/yr
Bend
Violent Crime
39% lower
168.5 vs 276.7 per 100k
Bend
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
3.8% vs 7.2% unemployment
Providence
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 105.8 (100 = US avg)
Providence
Median Home Value
$284k less
$293,000 vs $576,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bend, OR | Providence, RI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.8⚠ High | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $576,900⚠ High | $293,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,649⚠ High | $1,214 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,671 ✓ Higher | $61,365 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 24.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 19.0% ✓ Higher | 11.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 75 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 73 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 79 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.0:1 | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.4% ✓ Higher | 34.5% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 82.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bend-LaPine Administrative SD 1 | Providence |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.5°F ✓ Warmer | 38.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.8°F ✓ Warmer | 83.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.6" ✓ Drier | 47.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 21.6" ✓ Less | 36.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,442 | 189,715 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 32.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.2% ✓ Higher | 39.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% ✓ More | 20.7% |
| Over 65 | 17.0% ✓ More | 11.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bend's cost of living index is 105.8 vs Providence's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Providence is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bend leads 18 of 23 categories. Bend wins 18 and Providence wins 5. 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 Providence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,900 vs $293,000 median home), income ($82,671 vs $61,365), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bend, OR and Providence, RI are about 2,489 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.