Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bend, OR
VS
Spokane, WA
🏆 Bend leads 17 of 23 categories
Bend
Oregon
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,671 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
99,442
Spokane
Washington
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,316
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
227,922 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bend, OR
Pros
75% less violent crime than Spokane
Households earn $19,355 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 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
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,900
Higher rents — median is $1,649/mo
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Spokane
Spokane, WA
Pros
Homes cost $290k less ($286,900 vs $576,900)
Rent averages $589/mo less ($1,060 vs $1,649)
Smaller class sizes — 14.8:1 student-teacher ratio
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Bend
Cons
Violent crime (674.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Bend by $19,355/yr
Property crime (4840.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 3.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Bend
Median Income
$19,355
$82,671 vs $63,316/yr
Bend
Violent Crime
75% lower
168.5 vs 674.9 per 100k
Bend
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
3.8% vs 6.2% unemployment
Spokane
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 101.0 vs 105.8 (100 = US avg)
Spokane
Median Home Value
$290k less
$286,900 vs $576,900
Spokane
Summer Heat
3.3°F warmer
July avg high 87.1°F vs 83.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bend, OR | Spokane, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.8⚠ High | 101.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $576,900⚠ High | $286,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,649⚠ High | $1,060 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,671 ✓ Higher | $63,316 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 20.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 19.0% ✓ Higher | 12.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 231⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.0:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.4% ✓ Higher | 32.7% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 93.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bend-LaPine Administrative SD 1 | Spokane School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.5°F ✓ Warmer | 37.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.8°F | 87.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.6" ✓ Drier | 17.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 21.6" ✓ Less | 45.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,442 | 227,922 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 37.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.2% ✓ Higher | 57.5% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 17.0% ✓ More | 16.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bend's cost of living index is 105.8 vs Spokane's 101.0 (US average = 100).
Spokane is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bend leads 17 of 23 categories. Bend wins 17 and Spokane wins 6. 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 Spokane or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,900 vs $286,900 median home), income ($82,671 vs $63,316), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bend, OR and Spokane, WA are about 311 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.