Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bend, OR
VS
Stamford, CT
🏆 Bend leads 14 of 23 categories
Bend
Oregon
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,671
Violent Crime Index
44
Population
99,442
Stamford
Connecticut
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$100,718 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
135,413 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bend, OR
Pros
Rent averages $480/mo less ($1,649 vs $2,129)
Violent crime is well below the national average (168.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (3.8%)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Stamford by $18,047/yr
Stamford, CT
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (157.5 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $18,047 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 12.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,129/mo
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 3.8%)
Longer commutes — 27.8 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Bend
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 105.8 vs 106.5 (100 = US avg)
Bend
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.5% unemployment
Stamford
Median Income
$18,047
$100,718 vs $82,671/yr
Stamford
Violent Crime
7% lower
157.5 vs 168.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bend, OR | Stamford, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 106.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $576,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $584,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,649⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,129⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,671 | $100,718 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 27.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 19.0% ✓ Higher | 14.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 | 58 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | A (120) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.0:1 | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.4% | 50.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 88.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bend-LaPine Administrative SD 1 | Stamford School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.5°F ✓ Warmer | 38.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.8°F | 84.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.6" ✓ Drier | 50.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 21.6" ✓ Less | 34.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,442 | 135,413 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 37.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.2% ✓ Higher | 46.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% ✓ More | 19.2% |
| Over 65 | 17.0% ✓ More | 15.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bend's cost of living index is 105.8 vs Stamford's 106.5 (US average = 100).
Bend is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bend leads 14 of 23 categories. Bend wins 14 and Stamford wins 9. 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 Stamford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,900 vs $584,700 median home), income ($82,671 vs $100,718), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bend, OR and Stamford, CT are about 2,405 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.