Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bend, OR
VS
Salem, OR
🏆 Bend leads 15 of 23 categories
Bend
Oregon
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,671 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
99,442
Salem
Oregon
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,540
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High
Population
175,754 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bend, OR
Pros
68% less violent crime than Salem
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (3.8%)
Households earn $15,131 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (168.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 48.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,900
Higher rents — median is $1,649/mo
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Salem
Salem, OR
Pros
Homes cost $227k less ($349,500 vs $576,900)
Rent averages $425/mo less ($1,224 vs $1,649)
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 43°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Bend
Cons
Violent crime (532.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Bend by $15,131/yr
Property crime (2803.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 3.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Bend
Median Income
$15,131
$82,671 vs $67,540/yr
Bend
Violent Crime
68% lower
168.5 vs 532.2 per 100k
Bend
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
3.8% vs 6.1% unemployment
Salem
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 102.4 vs 105.8 (100 = US avg)
Salem
Median Home Value
$227k less
$349,500 vs $576,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bend, OR | Salem, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.8⚠ High | 102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $576,900⚠ High | $349,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,649⚠ High | $1,224 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,671 ✓ Higher | $67,540 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 22.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 19.0% ✓ Higher | 12.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 137⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 133⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.0:1 | 19.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.4% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 88.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bend-LaPine Administrative SD 1 | Salem-Keizer SD 24J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.5°F | 48.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.8°F ✓ Warmer | 83.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.6" ✓ Drier | 46.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 21.6" | 1.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,442 | 175,754 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 35.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.2% ✓ Higher | 54.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.0% ✓ More | 15.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bend's cost of living index is 105.8 vs Salem's 102.4 (US average = 100).
Salem is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bend leads 15 of 23 categories. Bend wins 15 and Salem wins 8. 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 Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,900 vs $349,500 median home), income ($82,671 vs $67,540), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bend, OR and Salem, OR are about 104 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.