Bend OR vs Minneapolis MN — 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%

Minneapolis, MN

Minnesota · Population: 426,845

  • Median HH Income$80,269
  • Median Home Price$334,719
  • Unemployment5.7%
  • Bachelor's+54.4%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Bend
97,502
Minneapolis
426,845
Minneapolis +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Bend
N/A
Minneapolis
N/A
Median Age
Bend
37.6
Minneapolis
33.0
Minneapolis +
Foreign Born
Bend
17.6%
Bend +
Minneapolis
14.1%
White
Bend
65.5%
Bend +
Minneapolis
61.6%
Black
Bend
2.8%
Minneapolis
18.3%
Minneapolis +
Asian
Bend
11.4%
Bend +
Minneapolis
5.2%
Hispanic
Bend
17.3%
Bend +
Minneapolis
10.5%
Spanish at Home
Bend
N/A
Minneapolis
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Bend
$94,279
Bend +
Minneapolis
$80,269
Per Capita Income
Bend
$51,659
Bend +
Minneapolis
$50,605
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Bend
$63,691
Minneapolis
$69,467
Minneapolis +
Unemployment Rate
Bend
4.2%
Bend +
Minneapolis
5.7%
Poverty Rate
Bend
9.9%
Bend +
Minneapolis
16.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
Bend
49.3%
Minneapolis
54.4%
Minneapolis +

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Bend
$735,193
Minneapolis
$334,719
Minneapolis +
Homeownership Rate
Bend
49.8%
Bend +
Minneapolis
48.0%

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Bend
355
Minneapolis
284
Minneapolis +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Bend
3001
Minneapolis
1992
Minneapolis +

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Bend
26.5%
Bend +
Minneapolis
28.6%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Bend
8.9%
Minneapolis
7.4%
Minneapolis +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Bend
16.0%
Bend +
Minneapolis
17.1%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Bend
6.5%
Bend +
Minneapolis
9.9%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Bend
17.7%
Bend +
Minneapolis
19.8%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Bend
10.0%
Bend +
Minneapolis
12.7%

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Bend
46.6°F
Minneapolis
46.3°F
Minneapolis +
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Bend
11.4 in
Bend +
Minneapolis
30.6 in

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Bend
9.0 µg/m³
Minneapolis
8.1 µg/m³
Minneapolis +
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Bend
55.0%
Minneapolis
75.0%
Minneapolis +

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Bend
26.1 min
Minneapolis
24.2 min
Minneapolis +

Which City is Right for You?

Bend leads in median household income at $94,279, while minneapolis offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $334,719. On public safety, Minneapolis is safer with a violent crime rate of 284 per 100,000 residents, compared to 355 in Bend. Bend has a lower unemployment rate at 4.2%, and Minneapolis has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 8.1 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Bend scores better with a lower obesity rate of 26.5%.

Compare More Cities

About Bend & Minneapolis