Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bend, OR
VS
Shreveport, LA
🏆 Bend leads 13 of 23 categories
Bend
Oregon
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,671 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
99,442
Shreveport
Louisiana
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$45,967
Violent Crime Index
323⚠ High
Population
186,183 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bend, OR
Pros
Households earn $36,704 more per year on average
86% less violent crime than Shreveport
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.4 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
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,900
Higher rents — median is $1,649/mo
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Shreveport
Shreveport, LA
Pros
Homes cost $408k less ($168,900 vs $576,900)
Rent averages $704/mo less ($945 vs $1,649)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Bend
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 43°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.1)
Smaller class sizes — 15.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Bend by $36,704/yr
Violent crime (1228.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3990.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 3.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Bend
Median Income
$36,704
$82,671 vs $45,967/yr
Bend
Violent Crime
86% lower
168.5 vs 1228.5 per 100k
Bend
Unemployment
5.4 pp lower
3.8% vs 9.2% unemployment
Shreveport
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 87.1 vs 105.8 (100 = US avg)
Shreveport
Median Home Value
$408k less
$168,900 vs $576,900
Shreveport
Summer Heat
10.5°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 83.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bend, OR | Shreveport, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.8⚠ High | 87.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $576,900⚠ High | $168,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,649⚠ High | $945 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,671 ✓ Higher | $45,967 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 19.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 19.0% ✓ Higher | 4.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 270⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 323⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.0:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.4% ✓ Higher | 26.6% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 87.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bend-LaPine Administrative SD 1 | Caddo Parish |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.5°F | 58.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.8°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.6" ✓ Drier | 51.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 21.6" | 0.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,442 | 186,183 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 37.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.2% ✓ Higher | 53.8% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | 23.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.0% | 17.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bend's cost of living index is 105.8 vs Shreveport's 87.1 (US average = 100).
Shreveport is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bend leads 13 of 23 categories. Bend wins 13 and Shreveport wins 10. 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 Shreveport or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,900 vs $168,900 median home), income ($82,671 vs $45,967), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bend, OR and Shreveport, LA are about 1,683 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.