Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bend, OR
VS
Springfield, IL
🏆 Bend leads 12 of 23 categories
Bend
Oregon
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,671 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
99,442
Springfield
Illinois
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,419
Violent Crime Index
237⚠ High
Population
114,214 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bend, OR
Pros
81% less violent crime than Springfield
Households earn $20,252 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 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
Milder winters — January highs near 43°F vs 36°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,900
Higher rents — median is $1,649/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Springfield
Springfield, IL
Pros
Homes cost $429k less ($147,700 vs $576,900)
Rent averages $736/mo less ($913 vs $1,649)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Bend
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.5)
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (901.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Bend by $20,252/yr
Property crime (4911.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 3.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Bend
Median Income
$20,252
$82,671 vs $62,419/yr
Bend
Violent Crime
81% lower
168.5 vs 901.2 per 100k
Bend
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
3.8% vs 6.6% unemployment
Springfield
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 90.5 vs 105.8 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$429k less
$147,700 vs $576,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bend, OR | Springfield, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.8⚠ High | 90.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $576,900⚠ High | $147,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,649⚠ High | $913 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,671 ✓ Higher | $62,419 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 17.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 19.0% ✓ Higher | 10.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 237⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 234⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | A- (111) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.0:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.4% ✓ Higher | 34.7% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 92.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bend-LaPine Administrative SD 1 | Springfield SD 186 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.5°F ✓ Warmer | 35.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.8°F | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.6" ✓ Drier | 40.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 21.6" ✓ Less | 21.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,442 | 114,214 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.5 | 40.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.2% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | 21.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.0% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bend's cost of living index is 105.8 vs Springfield's 90.5 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bend leads 12 of 23 categories. Bend wins 12 and Springfield wins 11. 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 Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,900 vs $147,700 median home), income ($82,671 vs $62,419), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bend, OR and Springfield, IL are about 1,644 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.