Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bend, OR
VS
Simi Valley, CA
🏆 Bend leads 13 of 23 categories
Bend
Oregon
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,671
Violent Crime Index
44
Population
99,442
Simi Valley
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$112,144 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
34 ✓ Safer
Population
126,153 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bend, OR
Pros
Rent averages $753/mo less ($1,649 vs $2,402)
Homes cost $127k less ($576,900 vs $704,200)
Violent crime is well below the national average (168.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (3.8%)
More college-educated — 48.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Simi Valley by $29,473/yr
Simi Valley, CA
Pros
Households earn $29,473 more per year on average
23% less violent crime than Bend
Violent crime is well below the national average (129.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 43°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,402/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $704,200
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Longer commutes — 28.4 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Bend
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 105.8 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Bend
Median Home Value
$127k less
$576,900 vs $704,200
Bend
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
3.8% vs 4.4% unemployment
Simi Valley
Median Income
$29,473
$112,144 vs $82,671/yr
Simi Valley
Violent Crime
23% lower
129.1 vs 168.5 per 100k
Simi Valley
Summer Heat
11.3°F warmer
July avg high 95.1°F vs 83.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bend, OR | Simi Valley, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $576,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $704,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,649⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,402⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,671 | $112,144 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 28.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 19.0% ✓ Higher | 14.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 | 38 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 | 44 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.4% ✓ Higher | 36.0% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 91.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bend-LaPine Administrative SD 1 | Simi Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.5°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.8°F | 95.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.6" ✓ Drier | 17.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 21.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,442 | 126,153 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.5 | 41.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.2% | 72.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.8% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 17.0% ✓ More | 16.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bend's cost of living index is 105.8 vs Simi Valley's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Bend is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bend leads 13 of 23 categories. Bend wins 13 and Simi Valley 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 Simi Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,900 vs $704,200 median home), income ($82,671 vs $112,144), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bend, OR and Simi Valley, CA are about 690 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.