Bend vs Highlands Ranch
The short version
- Bend is cheaper overall: prices in its metro run 2% lower than in the Highlands Ranch area (BEA 2024).
- The median home costs $712,700 in Highlands Ranch and $718,400 in Bend.
- Households earn more in Highlands Ranch ($159,307 vs $96,394 median).
- Highlands Ranch has the warmer winter: January highs of 47°F vs 43°F.
- Highlands Ranch gets far more snow: 49 inches a year vs 22.
- Highlands Ranch has more scorching days: 42 a year at 90°F or hotter vs 16.
- Bend is growing faster: +8.2% since 2020 vs +0%.
- Commutes are shorter in Bend (16 vs 24 minutes each way).
Side by side
| Bend, OR | Highlands Ranch, CO | |
|---|---|---|
| People | ||
| Population (2025) | 107,342 | 102,257 |
| Growth since 2020 | +8.2% | n/a |
| People per square mile | 3,052 | 4,214 |
| Median age | 40.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 53% | 68% |
| Money and housing | ||
| Median household income | $96,394 | $159,307 |
| Median home value | $718,400 | $712,700 |
| Home value to income | 7.5× | 4.5× |
| Median rent (with utilities) | $1,883 | $2,531 |
| Metro price level (US = 100) | 103.6 | 105.8 |
| Housing price level (US = 100) | 110.0 | 146.9 |
| $75,000 elsewhere equals | $77,700 | $79,300 |
| Homeowners | 62% | 78% |
| Top state income tax | 9.9% | 4.4% |
| Combined sales tax | 0% | 7.89% |
| Work and commute | ||
| Average commute (minutes) | 16.3 | 24.2 |
| Work from home | 25% | 33% |
| Take public transit | 0% | 1% |
| Unemployment (2020-24 avg) | 3.7% | 4% |
| Poverty rate | 8.8% | 2.9% |
| Weather | ||
| January high / low | 43° / 25° | 47° / 18° |
| July high / low | 84° / 49° | 90° / 59° |
| Precipitation per year | 11 in | 15 in |
| Snowfall per year | 22 in | 49 in |
| Days 90°F or hotter | 16 | 42 |
| Nights below freezing | 168 | 156 |
| Comfortable months | 3 | 3 |
| Risks, air and home prices | ||
| Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county) | Relatively Moderate | Relatively Moderate |
| FEMA risk score (lower is safer) | 84.9 | 88.7 |
| Good air days, 2025 | 89% | 29% |
| Home prices, past year | +0.7% | -0.5% |
| Home prices, past 5 years | +29.2% | +21.4% |
Highlighted cells are the better value where "better" is clear (lower prices, higher income, shorter commutes). Sources: Census Bureau 2025 estimates and ACS 2020-2024, BEA 2024, NOAA 1991-2020, Tax Foundation 2026.
Weather, month by month
Most comfortable months: Bend: June to August. Highlands Ranch: May to June and September.
Full monthly tables: Bend weather by month and Highlands Ranch weather by month.
What $75,000 is worth
A $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $77,700 in Bend and $79,300 in Highlands Ranch. Moving from Bend to Highlands Ranch, you would need about $76,600 to match a $75,000 salary.
Which would you pick?
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