Bend: High-desert playground; housing is the wall. Seattle: No income tax + full amenity stack; price and gray are the toll.
Dimension
Bend
Seattle
Median home price
$672K
$745K
Effective property tax
0.93%
0.87%
Tax friendliness
4/10
9/10
Winter mildness
5/10
5/10
Summer comfort
10/10
9/10
Walkability
5/10
6/10
Outdoor access
10/10
10/10
Culture & food
6/10
8/10
Healthcare
4/10
10/10
Airport connectivity
6/10
9/10
Schools
7/10
8/10
Safety
7/10
6/10
Hazard safety (10 = lowest risk)
8/10
4/10
Growth trajectory
9/10
7/10
Pick Bend if your priorities lean: Median home price, Summer comfort, Safety, Hazard safety (10 = lowest risk). Pick Seattle if they lean: Effective property tax, Tax friendliness, Walkability, Culture & food. There is no universal winner — only a winner for your weights.