Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bend, OR
VS
Raleigh, NC
🏆 Bend leads 12 of 23 categories
Bend
Oregon
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,671 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
99,442
Raleigh
North Carolina
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,631
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
465,517 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bend, OR
Pros
66% less violent crime than Raleigh
Violent crime is well below the national average (168.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (3.8%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 91°F
Households earn $4,040 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,900
Higher rents — median is $1,649/mo
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Raleigh
Raleigh, NC
Pros
Homes cost $230k less ($347,000 vs $576,900)
Rent averages $278/mo less ($1,371 vs $1,649)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Bend
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 52°F vs 43°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (488.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2819.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.5% vs 3.8%)
Median income trails Bend by $4,040/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Bend
Median Income
$4,040
$82,671 vs $78,631/yr
Bend
Violent Crime
66% lower
168.5 vs 488.8 per 100k
Bend
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
3.8% vs 4.5% unemployment
Raleigh
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 105.8 (100 = US avg)
Raleigh
Median Home Value
$230k less
$347,000 vs $576,900
Raleigh
Summer Heat
6.8°F warmer
July avg high 90.6°F vs 83.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bend, OR | Raleigh, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.8⚠ High | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $576,900⚠ High | $347,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,649⚠ High | $1,371⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,671 ✓ Higher | $78,631 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 23.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 19.0% | 20.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 131⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 134⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.0:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.4% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 92.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bend-LaPine Administrative SD 1 | Wake County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.5°F | 51.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.8°F | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.6" ✓ Drier | 49.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 21.6" | 4.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,442 | 465,517 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 34.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.2% ✓ Higher | 51.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% ✓ More | 20.0% |
| Over 65 | 17.0% ✓ More | 11.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bend's cost of living index is 105.8 vs Raleigh's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Raleigh is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bend leads 12 of 23 categories. Bend wins 12 and Raleigh wins 11. 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 Raleigh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,900 vs $347,000 median home), income ($82,671 vs $78,631), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bend, OR and Raleigh, NC are about 2,303 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.