Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bend, OR
VS
Rochester, NY
🏆 Bend leads 17 of 23 categories
Bend
Oregon
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,671 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
99,442
Rochester
New York
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$44,156
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
210,992 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bend, OR
Pros
Households earn $38,515 more per year on average
71% less violent crime than Rochester
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.7 pts lower (3.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (168.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 48.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 43°F vs 33°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,900
Higher rents — median is $1,649/mo
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Rochester
Rochester, NY
Pros
Homes cost $466k less ($111,400 vs $576,900)
Rent averages $654/mo less ($995 vs $1,649)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Bend
Smaller class sizes — 10.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Bend by $38,515/yr
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3289.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.5% vs 3.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Bend
Median Income
$38,515
$82,671 vs $44,156/yr
Bend
Violent Crime
71% lower
168.5 vs 582.3 per 100k
Bend
Unemployment
4.7 pp lower
3.8% vs 8.5% unemployment
Rochester
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 97.7 vs 105.8 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Median Home Value
$466k less
$111,400 vs $576,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bend, OR | Rochester, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.8⚠ High | 97.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $576,900⚠ High | $111,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,649⚠ High | $995 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,671 ✓ Higher | $44,156 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 19.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 19.0% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.0:1 | 10.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.4% ✓ Higher | 29.4% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 83.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bend-LaPine Administrative SD 1 | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.5°F ✓ Warmer | 33.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.8°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.6" ✓ Drier | 35.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 21.6" ✓ Less | 102.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,442 | 210,992 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.2% ✓ Higher | 37.3% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | 21.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.0% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bend's cost of living index is 105.8 vs Rochester's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bend leads 17 of 23 categories. Bend wins 17 and Rochester 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 Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,900 vs $111,400 median home), income ($82,671 vs $44,156), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bend, OR and Rochester, NY are about 2,161 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.