Bend, OR vs Boise, ID
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Jun 2026
Report card
| Category | BendBend, OR | BoiseBoise, ID | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | |||
| Affluence | Good | Average | |
| Cost of Living | |||
| Crime | Safe | Safe | Same |
| Education | |||
| Quality of Life | Good | Good | Same |
| Sovereignty | Self-Reliant | Moderate | |
| Strategic | Defensible | Defensible |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
At 4.2% unemployment in Bend, OR versus 3.2% in Boise, ID, the two cities show a 1.0-point gap in the 2023 Census figures. Bend’s unemployment ranks in the 74th percentile, while Boise sits in the 29th. The cost of living index also differs, with Bend at 183 and Boise at 135, a 36% difference, placing Bend in the 88th percentile and Boise in the 70th. Median rent runs $1,767 in Bend against $1,359 in Boise, 30% higher, with percentiles of 83 and 61 respectively.
Crime and traffic safety diverge sharply. Violent crime per 100,000 people is 191 in Bend and 279 in Boise, making Boise 46% higher, with percentiles of 39 and 59. Property crime reverses the pattern: Bend’s 1,329 per 100,000 is 59% higher than Boise’s 834, placing Bend in the 47th percentile and Boise in the 25th. Traffic deaths per 100,000 stand at 43 in Bend versus 11 in Boise, a 4.0× difference, with Bend in the 86th percentile and Boise in the 27th. The 5-year violent crime trend is rising in Bend but falling in Boise.
Geography and air quality add further contrast. The air quality index reads 39 in Bend and 44 in Boise, 13% higher in Boise, with percentiles of 30 and 59. Distance to coastline is 139 miles for Bend and 396 miles for Boise, a 2.8× difference. Boise’s population of 235,701 is 2.3× larger than Bend’s 101,472, though population density is close at 2,882 versus 2,738 per square mile. The two cities share an F grade for national disaster risk, and both are energy importers.
AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them. Generated Oct 2026.
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Where they differ most
Cost of living
| Metric | Bend, OR | Boise, ID | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 18388th pctl | 13570th pctl | Cost of living index (100 = US): Bend, OR 183; Boise, ID 135; Bend is 36% higher. |
| Home valueMedian home value | $646,80089th pctl | $456,00078th pctl | Median home value: Bend, OR $646,800; Boise, ID $456,000; Bend is 42% higher. |
| Median rent | $1,76783rd pctl | $1,35961st pctl | Median rent: Bend, OR $1,767; Boise, ID $1,359; Bend is 30% higher. |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $88,79269th pctl | $81,30861st pctl | Median household income: Bend, OR $88,792; Boise, ID $81,308; Bend is 9% higher. |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $122,68691st pctl | $88,59380th pctl | Comfortable income (single): Bend, OR $122,686; Boise, ID $88,593; Bend is 38% higher. |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $180,34891st pctl | $130,23180th pctl | Comfortable income (family of 4): Bend, OR $180,348; Boise, ID $130,231; Bend is 38% higher. |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Unaffordable | Stretched | About the same |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in Boise needs about
$55,300
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 183 vs 135). Leaves out taxes, groceries and transport. How it works →
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
Jobs & income
| Metric | Bend, OR | Boise, ID | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 4.2%74th pctl | 3.2%29th pctl | Unemployment: Bend, OR 4.2%; Boise, ID 3.2%; Bend is 1.0 points higher. |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | +1.9%74th pctl | +2.1%78th pctl | About the same |
| Per-capita income | $54,88783rd pctl | $48,27475th pctl | Per-capita income: Bend, OR $54,887; Boise, ID $48,274; Bend is 14% higher. |
| Poverty rate | 9.5%39th pctl | 10.6%45th pctl | Poverty rate: Bend, OR 9.5%; Boise, ID 10.6%; Boise is 1.1 points higher. |
| CommuteAverage commute | 16.9 min8th pctl | 19.1 min20th pctl | Average commute: Bend, OR 16.9 min; Boise, ID 19.1 min; Boise is 2 minutes longer. |
| Work from home | 22.4%88th pctl | 15.8%72nd pctl | Work from home: Bend, OR 22.4%; Boise, ID 15.8%; Bend is 6.6 points higher. |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Stable | Stable | About the same |
| Job market | Stable | Strong | Job market: Bend, OR B-; Boise, ID A+; Boise is graded higher. |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | Bend, OR | Boise, ID | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 19139th pctl | 27959th pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Bend, OR 191; Boise, ID 279; Boise is 46% higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 1,32947th pctl | 83425th pctl | Property crime per 100k: Bend, OR 1,329; Boise, ID 834; Bend is 59% higher. |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Rising | Falling | |
| Crime & safety | Safe | Safe | About the same |
| Traffic safety | DangerousCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Very SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Traffic safety: Bend, OR F; Boise, ID A-; Boise is graded higher. |
Data: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
Quality of life
| Metric | Bend, OR | Boise, ID | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air quality | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| ClimateClimate comfort | Dry | Dry | About the same |
| HealthcareHealthcare access | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| Tap water | Clean | Fair | Tap water: Bend, OR A+; Boise, ID C+; Bend is graded higher. |
| Power grid | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | About the same |
| HomesteadingHomesteading potential | Prime | Workable | Homesteading potential: Bend, OR A-; Boise, ID B; Bend is graded higher. |
| Disaster riskNational disaster risk | High-Risk | High-Risk | About the same |
3 rows not shown: broadband, walkability and local food access aren't available for either place.
Data: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
Taxes & laws
| Metric | Bend, OR | Boise, ID | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxes | ModerateState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ModerateState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | About the same |
| HomeschoolHomeschool rules | moderateState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | noneState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| FirearmsFirearm laws grade | B-State figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | A-State figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| Property rightsProperty rights (eminent domain) | B+State figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | D+State figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| EnergyEnergy production | ImporterState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ImporterState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. |
Data: Tax Foundation, state statutes.
Strategic location
How exposed each place is to large-scale disruption, based on distance from big cities, likely targets and natural hazards.
| Metric | Bend, OR | Boise, ID | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 710 mi81st pctl | 668 mi80th pctl | Nearest large city: Bend, OR 710 mi; Boise, ID 668 mi; Bend is 6% higher. |
| Target proximity | Great | Poor | Target proximity: Bend, OR A+; Boise, ID F; Bend is graded higher. |
| To borderDistance to international border | 341 mi52nd pctl | 373 mi56th pctl | Distance to international border: Bend, OR 341 mi; Boise, ID 373 mi; Boise is 9% higher. |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 139 mi34th pctl | 396 mi62nd pctl | Distance to coastline: Bend, OR 139 mi; Boise, ID 396 mi; Boise is 2.8 times higher. |
| StrategicStrategic location | Defensible | Defensible | About the same |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Bend, OR | Boise, ID | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 101,47288th pctl | 235,70196th pctl | Population: Bend, OR 101,472; Boise, ID 235,701; Boise is 2.3 times larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 2,88276th pctl | 2,73874th pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Bend, OR 2,882; Boise, ID 2,738; Bend is 5% higher. |
| Median age | 40.367th pctl | 38.252nd pctl | Median age: Bend, OR 40.3; Boise, ID 38.2; Bend is 2.1 years older. |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 51.1%81st pctl | 46.6%75th pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: Bend, OR 51.1%; Boise, ID 46.6%; Bend is 4.5 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 2.335th pctl | 2.331st pctl | About the same |
More about Bend's residents · Boise's residents
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
Politics
Information only. Not part of any grade, difference or summary on this page.
Moving between Bend and Boise
- Median rent: $1,767 in Bend, $1,359 in Boise
- Median home value: $646,800 in Bend, $456,000 in Boise
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 183 in Bend, 135 in Boise
- Median household income: $88,792 in Bend, $81,308 in Boise
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $180,348 in Bend, $130,231 in Boise
- Unemployment: 4.2% in Bend, 3.2% in Boise
- Average commute: 16.9 min in Bend, 19.1 min in Boise
- Violent crime per 100k: 191 in Bend, 279 in Boise
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More places like Bend and Boise
- Data: Cost of living: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
- Data: Jobs & income: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
- Data: Safety: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
- Data: Quality of life: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
- Data: Taxes & laws: Tax Foundation, state statutes.
- Data: Strategic location: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
- Data: People: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area.
Narrative content on this page is AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them.
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