Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bend, OR
VS
Westminster, CO
🏆 Bend leads 15 of 23 categories
Bend
Oregon
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,671
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
99,442
Westminster
Colorado
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$90,651 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
80
Population
115,502 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bend, OR
Pros
44% less violent crime than Westminster
Violent crime is well below the national average (168.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 48.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 91°F
Rent averages $83/mo less ($1,649 vs $1,732)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,900
Median income trails Westminster by $7,980/yr
Westminster, CO
Pros
Homes cost $110k less ($467,200 vs $576,900)
Households earn $7,980 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 43°F
Smaller class sizes — 18.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Property crime (3540.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 55" of snow per year
Higher rents — median is $1,732/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Bend
Violent Crime
44% lower
168.5 vs 303.6 per 100k
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 105.8 on the COL index
Westminster
Median Income
$7,980
$90,651 vs $82,671/yr
Westminster
Median Home Value
$110k less
$467,200 vs $576,900
Westminster
Summer Heat
7.3°F warmer
July avg high 91.1°F vs 83.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bend, OR | Westminster, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.8⚠ High | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $576,900⚠ High | $467,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,649⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,732⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,671 | $90,651 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 26.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 19.0% ✓ Higher | 15.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 80 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.0:1 | 18.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.4% ✓ Higher | 42.2% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 92.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bend-LaPine Administrative SD 1 | Westminster Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.5°F | 48.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.8°F | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.6" ✓ Drier | 17.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 21.6" ✓ Less | 54.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,442 | 115,502 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 37.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.2% | 63.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.8% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 17.0% ✓ More | 14.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bend's cost of living index is 105.8 vs Westminster's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Westminster is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bend leads 15 of 23 categories. Bend wins 15 and Westminster wins 8. 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 Westminster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,900 vs $467,200 median home), income ($82,671 vs $90,651), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bend, OR and Westminster, CO are about 881 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.