Living a Mountain Lifestyle in Bend, Oregon

Bend, Oregon is located on the Deschutes River on the eastern edge of the Cascades. The area offers great scenic beauty, skiing, mountains, golf, fishing, and more. Word about how nice this city is has gotten out: the population was just over 77,000 in 2008, an increase of over 48% from 2000. The town is located in Deschutes County in the center of the state.  Bend’s economy is strong thanks to tourism. There are 2 colleges in Bend, Central Oregon Community College and the Oregon State University - Cascades Campus.

Where to Retire in Bend and Home Prices

Housing choices are many and diverse. You can live in town or in a newer development. Sun River is one of the largest of these with almost 4,000 housing units. It is about 15 miles away.
Prices range widely depending on the development. The median home value in Bend was $752,556, in early 2022, which is a rise of over 30% during the past year, according to Zillow. 

What Is Special about Bend

Bend has wonderful scenic and recreational activities; Mirror Pond in downtown Bend; 71 parks and 48 miles of trails; Mount Bachelor ski resort; Bend Film Festival; Minor league baseball, basketball, and soccer; Pilot Butte State Park; Smith Rock State Park

What Is Not Special about Bend

• Far from a big city or international airport • Traffic is building • High unemployment rate

Climate and Physical Environment

Bend is located in central Oregon on the eastern edge of the Cascade Range as it transitions into the drier Great Basin high desert plateau. The terrain is characterized by junipers, sagebrush, bitter-brush, and little water. Pilot Butte State Park is an extinct cinder cone inside the city limits. Annual precipitation averages 10-13 inches; annual snowfall is 34 inches.

Restaurants & Cultural Scene

Performing arts institutions and venues in Bend include the Cascade Festival of Music, Cascades Theatrical Company, Central Oregon Symphony Orchestra, Les Schwab Amphitheater , 2nd Street Theater, the Tower Theatre, and the Obsidian Opera Company. There are 3 museums in the area, including the Deschutes County Historical Museum and the High Desert Museum. There is an Art in Public Places program in addition to a number of private galleries. Central Oregon Community College is here with 1,600 students.

Crime

The crime rate in Bend is well below the national average.

Medical Facilities

St. Charles Medical Center is the main medical facility in Bend OR

Transportation

Transportation in the Bend area includes Roberts Field in Redmond, Oregon, 18 miles north. Portland's International Airport is about a 3 and a half hour drive. A municipal bus system started in late 2006.
For more about retirement in Oregon

Valuable Links

Bend Chamber of Commerce

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