Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bend, OR
VS
Sacramento, CA
🏆 Bend leads 16 of 23 categories
Bend
Oregon
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,671 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
99,442
Sacramento
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,954
Violent Crime Index
199⚠ High
Population
523,600 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bend, OR
Pros
78% less violent crime than Sacramento
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (3.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (168.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 48.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,900
Sacramento, CA
Pros
Homes cost $126k less ($450,500 vs $576,900)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 43°F
Cons
Violent crime (754.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2547.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 3.8%)
Median income trails Bend by $3,717/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Bend
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 105.8 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Bend
Median Income
$3,717
$82,671 vs $78,954/yr
Bend
Violent Crime
78% lower
168.5 vs 754.9 per 100k
Bend
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
3.8% vs 6.3% unemployment
Sacramento
Median Home Value
$126k less
$450,500 vs $576,900
Sacramento
Summer Heat
10.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.4°F vs 83.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bend, OR | Sacramento, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 108.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $576,900⚠ High | $450,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,649⚠ High | $1,592⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,671 ✓ Higher | $78,954 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 25.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 19.0% ✓ Higher | 15.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 168⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 121⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.4% ✓ Higher | 35.8% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 86.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bend-LaPine Administrative SD 1 | Sacramento City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.5°F | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.8°F | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.6" ✓ Drier | 20.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 21.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,442 | 523,600 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 35.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.2% ✓ Higher | 50.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.0% ✓ More | 13.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bend's cost of living index is 105.8 vs Sacramento's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Bend is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bend leads 16 of 23 categories. Bend wins 16 and Sacramento wins 7. 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 Sacramento or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,900 vs $450,500 median home), income ($82,671 vs $78,954), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bend, OR and Sacramento, CA are about 379 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.