Bend OR vs Bismarck ND — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026
Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)
Bend, OR
Oregon · Population: 97,502
- Median HH Income$94,279
- Median Home Price$735,193
- Unemployment4.2%
- Bachelor's+49.3%
Bismarck, ND
North Dakota · Population: 74,146
- Median HH Income$77,608
- Median Home Price$373,227
- Unemployment3.6%
- Bachelor's+38.7%
Detailed Comparison
Demographics
Population
Bend
97,502
Bend +
Bismarck
74,146
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Bend
N/A
Bismarck
N/A
Median Age
Bend
37.6
Bend +
Bismarck
38.2
Foreign Born
Bend
17.6%
Bend +
Bismarck
3.6%
White
Bend
65.5%
Bismarck
84.8%
Bismarck +
Black
Bend
2.8%
Bend +
Bismarck
2.5%
Asian
Bend
11.4%
Bend +
Bismarck
1.0%
Hispanic
Bend
17.3%
Bend +
Bismarck
3.2%
Spanish at Home
Bend
N/A
Bismarck
N/A
| Metric | Bend, OR | Bismarck, ND | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 97,502 | 74,146 | Bend + |
| Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space | N/A | N/A | - |
| Median Age | 37.6 | 38.2 | Bend + |
| Foreign Born | 17.6% | 3.6% | Bend + |
| White | 65.5% | 84.8% | Bismarck + |
| Black | 2.8% | 2.5% | Bend + |
| Asian | 11.4% | 1.0% | Bend + |
| Hispanic | 17.3% | 3.2% | Bend + |
| Spanish at Home | N/A | N/A | - |
Economy
Median HH Income
Bend
$94,279
Bend +
Bismarck
$77,608
Per Capita Income
Bend
$51,659
Bend +
Bismarck
$44,475
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Bend
$63,691
Bismarck
$71,089
Bismarck +
Unemployment Rate
Bend
4.2%
Bismarck
3.6%
Bismarck +
Poverty Rate
Bend
9.9%
Bismarck
9.7%
Bismarck +
Bachelor's Degree+
Bend
49.3%
Bend +
Bismarck
38.7%
| Metric | Bend, OR | Bismarck, ND | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median HH Income | $94,279 | $77,608 | Bend + |
| Per Capita Income | $51,659 | $44,475 | Bend + |
| Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level | $63,691 | $71,089 | Bismarck + |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2% | 3.6% | Bismarck + |
| Poverty Rate | 9.9% | 9.7% | Bismarck + |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 49.3% | 38.7% | Bend + |
Housing
Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Bend
$735,193
Bismarck
$373,227
Bismarck +
Homeownership Rate
Bend
49.8%
Bismarck
65.8%
Bismarck +
| Metric | Bend, OR | Bismarck, ND | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS | $735,193 | $373,227 | Bismarck + |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.8% | 65.8% | Bismarck + |
Safety
Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Bend
355
Bismarck
288
Bismarck +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Bend
3001
Bismarck
2037
Bismarck +
| Metric | Bend, OR | Bismarck, ND | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 355 | 288 | Bismarck + |
| Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 3001 | 2037 | Bismarck + |
Health
Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Bend
26.5%
Bend +
Bismarck
35.2%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Bend
8.9%
Bend +
Bismarck
9.4%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Bend
16.0%
Bismarck
13.3%
Bismarck +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Bend
6.5%
Bend +
Bismarck
6.6%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Bend
17.7%
Bend +
Bismarck
20.4%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Bend
10.0%
Bend +
Bismarck
12.0%
| Metric | Bend, OR | Bismarck, ND | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity RateCDC PLACES | 26.5% | 35.2% | Bend + |
| Diabetes RateCDC PLACES | 8.9% | 9.4% | Bend + |
| Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month | 16.0% | 13.3% | Bismarck + |
| No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES | 6.5% | 6.6% | Bend + |
| Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES | 17.7% | 20.4% | Bend + |
| Current SmokersCDC PLACES | 10.0% | 12.0% | Bend + |
Climate
Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Bend
46.6°F
Bismarck
42.4°F
Bismarck +
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Bend
11.4 in
Bend +
Bismarck
19.6 in
| Metric | Bend, OR | Bismarck, ND | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 46.6°F | 42.4°F | Bismarck + |
| Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 11.4 in | 19.6 in | Bend + |
Air Quality
PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Bend
9.0 µg/m³
Bismarck
8.6 µg/m³
Bismarck +
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Bend
55.0%
Bismarck
75.0%
Bismarck +
| Metric | Bend, OR | Bismarck, ND | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.) | 9.0 µg/m³ | 8.6 µg/m³ | Bismarck + |
| Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50 | 55.0% | 75.0% | Bismarck + |
Commute
Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Bend
26.1 min
Bismarck
16.7 min
Bismarck +
| Metric | Bend, OR | Bismarck, ND | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS | 26.1 min | 16.7 min | Bismarck + |
Which City is Right for You?
Bend leads in median household income at $94,279, while bismarck offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $373,227. On public safety, Bismarck is safer with a violent crime rate of 288 per 100,000 residents, compared to 355 in Bend. Bismarck has a lower unemployment rate at 3.6%, and Bismarck has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 8.6 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Bend scores better with a lower obesity rate of 26.5%.
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