Bend vs Seattle
Two markets on the list for people leaving LA. Here's how they stack up on price, pace and taxes, measured against what a typical LA home sells for.
| Bend, OR | Seattle, WA | |
|---|---|---|
| Median sale price | $778K | $901K |
| Median single-family | $800K | $1.17M |
| Median condo | $359K | $503K |
| Median $/sq ft | $400 | $571 |
| Median days on market | 21 | 11 |
| Avg sale-to-list | 99.2% | 100.8% |
| Sq ft for $1M (at median $/sq ft) | 2,500 | 1,750 |
| Californians who moved to the state (2024) | 31,500 | 43,938 |
Redfin Data Center, May 2026, all residential unless noted. Typical LA County zip for reference: $904K median, $588/sq ft, 44 median days on market. Mover counts: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2024, estimates with margins of error.
The short version
Bend is the less expensive of the two at the median, about $778K versus $901K in Seattle, roughly 14% less (Redfin, May 2026). $1 million covers roughly 2,500 square feet in Bend at the median price per square foot, versus about 1,750 in Seattle. Seattle homes have been moving faster, 11 median days on market versus 21 in Bend. Oregon has a progressive income tax with a top rate of 9.9%. Washington has no personal income tax on wages. In 2024 about 32,000 Californians moved to Oregon and about 44,000 to Washington (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024).
Taxes
Bend: Progressive, top rate 9.9%. Seattle: None on wages (Washington has no personal income tax on wages). Property tax, insurance and HOA costs vary by address in both places and can matter as much as income tax, so price them for any specific home.
Go deeper
Read the full guides: moving from LA to Bend and moving from LA to Seattle.
Common questions
Is Bend or Seattle cheaper?
Bend had the lower median sale price, about $778K versus $901K in Seattle (Redfin, May 2026), roughly 14% less at the median.
Which has lower state income tax, Bend or Seattle?
Seattle has the lower state income tax. Washington has no personal income tax on wages. By comparison, Oregon has a progressive income tax with a top rate of 9.9%. Rates change, so confirm with each state and a CPA.
What does $1 million buy in Bend vs Seattle?
At the median price per square foot, $1 million works out to roughly 2,500 square feet in Bend and 1,750 in Seattle, versus about 1,700 at the LA median. A rough illustration, not a listing.
