Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bend, OR
VS
West Palm Beach, FL
🏆 Bend leads 14 of 23 categories
Bend
Oregon
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,671 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
99,442
West Palm Beach
Florida
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,044
Violent Crime Index
152⚠ High
Population
117,588 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bend, OR
Pros
71% less violent crime than West Palm Beach
Households earn $18,627 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)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 48.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,900
West Palm Beach, FL
Pros
Homes cost $252k less ($324,800 vs $576,900)
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 43°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (575.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Bend by $18,627/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 3.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Bend
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 105.8 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Bend
Median Income
$18,627
$82,671 vs $64,044/yr
Bend
Violent Crime
71% lower
168.5 vs 575.8 per 100k
Bend
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
3.8% vs 6.2% unemployment
West Palm Beach
Median Home Value
$252k less
$324,800 vs $576,900
West Palm Beach
Summer Heat
6.2°F warmer
July avg high 90.0°F vs 83.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bend, OR | West Palm Beach, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $576,900⚠ High | $324,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,649⚠ High | $1,614⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,671 ✓ Higher | $64,044 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 23.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 19.0% ✓ Higher | 11.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 102⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.0:1 | 16.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.4% ✓ Higher | 37.5% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 86.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bend-LaPine Administrative SD 1 | PALM BEACH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.5°F | 74.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.8°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.6" ✓ Drier | 61.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 21.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,442 | 117,588 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.5 | 40.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.2% ✓ Higher | 49.8% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% ✓ More | 17.6% |
| Over 65 | 17.0% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bend's cost of living index is 105.8 vs West Palm Beach's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Bend is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bend leads 14 of 23 categories. Bend wins 14 and West Palm Beach 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 West Palm Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,900 vs $324,800 median home), income ($82,671 vs $64,044), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bend, OR and West Palm Beach, FL are about 2,574 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.