Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bend, OR
VS
Washington, DC
🏆 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 ✓ Safer
Population
99,442
Washington
District of Columbia
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$101,722 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
244⚠ High
Population
670,587 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bend, OR
Pros
82% less violent crime than Washington
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (3.8%)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Homes cost $128k less ($576,900 vs $705,000)
Violent crime is well below the national average (168.5 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $168/mo less ($1,649 vs $1,817)
Cons
Median income trails Washington by $19,051/yr
Washington, DC
Pros
Households earn $19,051 more per year on average
More college-educated — 62.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 10.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (925.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $705,000
Property crime (3588.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.1% vs 3.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Bend
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 105.8 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Bend
Violent Crime
82% lower
168.5 vs 925.9 per 100k
Bend
Median Home Value
$128k less
$576,900 vs $705,000
Bend
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
3.8% vs 7.1% unemployment
Washington
Median Income
$19,051
$101,722 vs $82,671/yr
Washington
Summer Heat
6.0°F warmer
July avg high 89.8°F vs 83.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bend, OR | Washington, DC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 108.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $576,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $705,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,649⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,817⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,671 | $101,722 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 19.0% | 25.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 215⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 244⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | A (119) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.0:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.4% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 92.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bend-LaPine Administrative SD 1 | District of Columbia Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.5°F | 44.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.8°F | 89.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.6" ✓ Drier | 45.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 21.6" | 9.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,442 | 670,587 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 34.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.2% ✓ Higher | 41.4% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% ✓ More | 18.5% |
| Over 65 | 17.0% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bend's cost of living index is 105.8 vs Washington's 108.6 (US average = 100).
Bend is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bend leads 14 of 23 categories. Bend wins 14 and Washington 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 Washington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,900 vs $705,000 median home), income ($82,671 vs $101,722), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bend, OR and Washington, DC are about 2,292 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.