Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bend, OR
VS
Tacoma, WA
🏆 Bend leads 17 of 23 categories
Bend
Oregon
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,671 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
99,442
Tacoma
Washington
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$79,085
Violent Crime Index
280⚠ High
Population
219,234 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bend, OR
Pros
84% less violent crime than Tacoma
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Violent crime is well below the national average (168.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (3.8%)
More college-educated — 48.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Tacoma
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,900
Higher rents — median is $1,649/mo
Tacoma, WA
Pros
Homes cost $162k less ($415,300 vs $576,900)
Rent averages $160/mo less ($1,489 vs $1,649)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 84°F
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 43°F
Cons
Violent crime (1063.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (5603.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 3.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Bend
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 105.8 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Bend
Median Income
$3,586
$82,671 vs $79,085/yr
Bend
Violent Crime
84% lower
168.5 vs 1063.0 per 100k
Bend
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.4% unemployment
Bend
Summer Heat
7.0°F warmer
July avg high 83.8°F vs 76.8°F
Tacoma
Median Home Value
$162k less
$415,300 vs $576,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bend, OR | Tacoma, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $576,900⚠ High | $415,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,649⚠ High | $1,489⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,671 ✓ Higher | $79,085 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 19.0% ✓ Higher | 12.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 275⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 280⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 267⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.0:1 | 18.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.4% ✓ Higher | 32.8% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 90.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bend-LaPine Administrative SD 1 | Tacoma School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.5°F | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.8°F ✓ Warmer | 76.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.6" ✓ Drier | 40.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 21.6" | 5.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,442 | 219,234 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 36.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.2% ✓ Higher | 56.8% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 17.0% ✓ More | 14.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bend's cost of living index is 105.8 vs Tacoma's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Bend is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bend leads 17 of 23 categories. Bend wins 17 and Tacoma 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 Tacoma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,900 vs $415,300 median home), income ($82,671 vs $79,085), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bend, OR and Tacoma, WA are about 228 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.