Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bend, OR
VS
San Francisco, CA
🏆 Bend leads 16 of 23 categories
Bend
Oregon
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,671
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
99,442
San Francisco
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
117.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,689 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High
Population
851,036 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bend, OR
Pros
Homes cost $772k less ($576,900 vs $1,348,700)
72% less violent crime than San Francisco
Rent averages $667/mo less ($1,649 vs $2,316)
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
Violent crime is well below the national average (168.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (3.8%)
Cons
Median income trails San Francisco by $54,018/yr
San Francisco, CA
Pros
Households earn $54,018 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 62°F vs 84°F
More college-educated — 59.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 43°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,348,700
Higher rents — median is $2,316/mo
Violent crime (596.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 117.1)
Key Differences at a Glance
Bend
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 105.8 vs 117.1 (100 = US avg)
Bend
Violent Crime
72% lower
168.5 vs 596.5 per 100k
Bend
Median Home Value
$772k less
$576,900 vs $1,348,700
Bend
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.4% unemployment
Bend
Summer Heat
22.0°F warmer
July avg high 83.8°F vs 61.8°F
San Francisco
Median Income
$54,018
$136,689 vs $82,671/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bend, OR | San Francisco, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 117.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $576,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,348,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,649⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,316⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,671 | $136,689 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 31.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 19.0% | 23.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 187⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.4% | 59.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 88.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bend-LaPine Administrative SD 1 | San Francisco Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.5°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.8°F ✓ Warmer | 61.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.6" ✓ Drier | 30.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 21.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,442 | 851,036 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 39.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.2% ✓ Higher | 38.6% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% ✓ More | 13.6% |
| Over 65 | 17.0% ✓ More | 16.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bend's cost of living index is 105.8 vs San Francisco's 117.1 (US average = 100).
Bend is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bend leads 16 of 23 categories. Bend wins 16 and San Francisco 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 San Francisco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,900 vs $1,348,700 median home), income ($82,671 vs $136,689), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bend, OR and San Francisco, CA are about 446 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.