Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bend, OR
VS
Yuma, AZ
🏆 Bend leads 12 of 23 categories
Bend
Oregon
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,671 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
99,442 ✓ Larger
Yuma
Arizona
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,312
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
96,314
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bend, OR
Pros
60% less violent crime than Yuma
Households earn $23,359 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.9 pts lower (3.8%)
More college-educated — 48.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (168.5 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 107°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,900
Higher rents — median is $1,649/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Yuma
Yuma, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $390k less ($186,500 vs $576,900)
Rent averages $621/mo less ($1,028 vs $1,649)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 43°F
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Bend
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cons
Median income trails Bend by $23,359/yr
Higher unemployment (7.7% vs 3.8%)
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Bend
Median Income
$23,359
$82,671 vs $59,312/yr
Bend
Violent Crime
60% lower
168.5 vs 423.6 per 100k
Bend
Unemployment
3.9 pp lower
3.8% vs 7.7% unemployment
Yuma
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 105.8 (100 = US avg)
Yuma
Median Home Value
$390k less
$186,500 vs $576,900
Yuma
Summer Heat
22.9°F warmer
July avg high 106.7°F vs 83.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bend, OR | Yuma, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.8⚠ High | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $576,900⚠ High | $186,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,649⚠ High | $1,028 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,671 ✓ Higher | $59,312 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 17.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 19.0% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 91 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | C- (70) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.0:1 | 19.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.4% ✓ Higher | 20.3% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 83.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bend-LaPine Administrative SD 1 | Yuma Elementary District (4499) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.5°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.8°F | 106.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.6" | 3.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 21.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,442 ✓ Larger | 96,314 |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 32.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.2% | 64.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.0% ✓ More | 16.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bend's cost of living index is 105.8 vs Yuma's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Yuma is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bend leads 12 of 23 categories. Bend wins 12 and Yuma wins 11. 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 Yuma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,900 vs $186,500 median home), income ($82,671 vs $59,312), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bend, OR and Yuma, AZ are about 877 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.