The Crest at Linton Hall
Bristow, Virginia
Bend, Oregon
What It Is Like to Retire in Bend
Active adults over 50 looking for a new community where the outdoors is important should consider Bend, Oregon. 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 99,178 in the 2020 census, an increase of over 93% since 2000. Bend makes just about every list of “best retirement communities”. It is located in Deschutes County in the center of the state. Photo of Farewell Bend Park courtesy of Wikipedia and Amoore6000, Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0/ Here is more information on retirement guides by state
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 active communities here; it has almost 4,000 housing units. It is about 15 miles away from town. Prices range widely depending on the development. The median home value in Bend was $726,165 in early 2024, according to Zillow.
What Is Special about Bend
Bend has wonderful scenic and recreational activities with Mirror Pond in downtown Bend and 71 parks and 48 miles of trails, Pilot Butte State Park, and Smith Rock State Park, along with Mount Bachelor ski resort. The town is also home to Bend Film Festival, and Minor league baseball, basketball, and soccer.
What Is Not Special about Bend
• Far from a big city or international airport • Traffic is building • High unemployment rate
Who Will Like Retirement in Bend
Retirees will like living in Bend because it has beautiful natural surroundings and a vital and prosperous downtown. There is a strong economic base with ample opportunities for work. People who especially enjoy outdoor living will love it here.
Local Economy Is Driven by
Tourism, heath care, professional services, education. There are quite a few companies with a large number of employees in the Bend area, the biggest of which is the St. Charles Medical Center.
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.
Comments on "Bend"
Scott R L says:
I worked with a woman who lived in Bend.
Locals call it "Poverty with a View".