Thinking about moving to Bend? You’re in good company. The recent influx of newcomers have made Bend the second fastest growing city in America.
Known for great outdoor recreation, year-round sunshine and friendly locals, living in Bend has its perks. But is the city right for you?
Today I’ll share what I love (and don’t love) about daily life in Bend. As you read this, keep in mind that these pros and cons are based on my personal experience, not everyone feels the same way.
Hopefully this answers some of your questions, if not, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I’d love to help! Let’s get to the good stuff.
Perks of Moving to Bend
1. Year-Round Access to Nature
Living in Bend offers an unparalleled haven for outdoor enthusiasts. You’ll be hard pressed to find more stunning natural surroundings and recreational opportunities than those offered in Central Oregon. located in the heart of the Cascade Range, you’ll have easy access to outdoor activities year-round.
Come summer, the Deschutes River swells with kayakers, rafters, and fishers alike, while hikers and mountain bikers explore the countless trails in the nearby forests. In the winter, hit the slopes at Mount Bachelor, the 7th largest ski resort in the country.
There’s no reason to grow bored while living in Bend, especially if you consider yourself a nature nut.
If you’re overwhelmed by hiking options, I suggest reading: 20 JAW-DROPPING Hikes Near Bend, Oregon
2. The Beer Scene is Top-Notch
Pining for a pint after a long day on the slopes or trails? You’re in good hands. Bend is home to more than 30 craft breweries. Which means there’s roughly 16 breweries per 50,000 people, which means Bend has the third most breweries per capita of any US city.
The thriving beer scene spans the gamut. From time-tested classics like Deschutes Brewery to innovative newcomers pushing the boundaries, there’s a beer for every palate. And since Bend is keen on sourcing local ingredients, you’re bound to come across some clever concoctions (spruce tip beer, anyone?).
The best part about the city’s beer scene is the relaxed atmosphere that comes with it. The easy-going vibes make it easy to catch up with friends over pints of beer and food cart tacos while playing rounds of corn hole.
There’s a whole sense of community around the brew scene and kids are fair game at most breweries, so it’s a great way to connect with other parents (if that’s more your speed).
Not all breweries are created equal, here’s my personal roundup of the 15 Best Breweries in Bend.
3. Bend is Very Dog Friendly
I know, understatement of the century. I swear, sometimes it feels like having a dog is a requirement for moving to Bend. But don’t just take my word for it, Bend was named the best dog city in country in 2017. Cute pups are everywhere and locals are very friendly toward dog owners.
The city’s dog-friendly culture is further evidenced by the dizzying amount of pet-friendly businesses, like restaurants, breweries and hotels. Plus, with more than 50 miles of urban trails and an additional 50 miles of off-leash areas (including Riverbend Dog Park), living in Bend with a pup is a breeze.
4. Tons of Sunshine
Few people can confidently (and truthfully) say they live in a city with great weather year-round, but if you live in Bend, you’ll know this to be true. Bend is a four season town that averages 250 days of sunshine per year. This particulare advantage of this can’t be overstated.
First, year-round sunshine gives you an opportunity to enjoy Bend’s outdoor recreation. I mean, what good are world-class hiking trails if it rains half the year, right? Secondly, sunshine is known to boost mood and productivity.
For example, Portland is notorious for gray winters, so much so that residents often get diagnosed with seasonal affective disorder (SAD). The gray weather gets so depressing, most of my coworkers in Portland end up resorting to this handy tool to make it through the winter.
Thankfully, that’s not the case for those living in Bend. The high desert climate is characterized by mild winter temperatures, low humidity and summer heatwaves. Summer temperatures range around 80-90°F, whereas winter may see a handful of snow storms but the daily temps hover around 25-45°F.
#5. Bend is (Downright) Beautiful
One of my favorite things about living in Bend is getting to experience the beauty of the city on a daily basis. Bend is a small town through and through, in lieu of monolithic skyscrapers, you’ll see the towering peaks of the Three Sisters and Mount Bachelor.
The Deschutes River meanders through the charming town, making daily life in Bend feel like living on a movie set some days. Where most cities have asphalt, Bend has nature.
The downtown area is full of local shops, great restaurants, cafes and breweries. The Old Mill District was once home to two lumber mills that were crucial to the local economy until the 20th century. The area was recently revitalized and transformed into a lively mixed-use district brimming with locals.
It also feels like the landscape is constantly changing. Bend transforms with the seasons, from vibrant wildflowers carpeting the hillsides in spring to fiery foliage in autumn. All this to say, living in Bend feels like a treat year-round because the city is well-kept, clean and thoughtfully designed.
You might enjoy reading: 20+ EPIC Things to Do in Bend, Oregon
6. The Laid-Back Vibe
Bend’s laid-back vibe is rooted in the city’s outdoor-centric lifestyle, with locals often prioritizing outdoor adventures over the hustle and bustle of urban life. With a population of 104K, Bend maintains a small-town feel while offering amenities typical of larger cities.
As such, retiring in Bend is a popular affair. Since 2010, the senior population in Deschutes Country has increased by 53%. But the retirement mindset isn’t reserved exclusively for locals that were old enough to vote for Carter in ’76, the laid-back lifestyles seems to be prevalent regardless of age.
7. The Food Scene
Taking cues from Portland and Seattle, Bend’s food scene is nothing to scoff at. The city is home to a variety of cuisines, from farm-to-table eateries to food trucks with an hour-long wait, you’ll find it all. Admittedly, fine dining options are limited, but what Bend lacks in numbers, it makes up for in quality.
One of my favorite places to celebrate a special occasion is Ariana Restaurant, followed by 900 Wall. However, most of my meals take place at breweries (I’m a big fan of the seasonal menu at 10 Barrel and Bend Brewing). But whenever I’m showing first-time visitors around, I always take them to El Sancho for tacos (so good!).
From gourmet burgers at Jackson’s Corner to artisanal pastries at Sparrow Bakery, the city’s culinary scene is one of the biggest perks of living in Bend.
8. Bend is an Artsy City
The city is home to tons of galleries, art studios and public art installations that showcase local and internationally renowned artists. The Tin Pan Alley Art Collection, a series of murals adorning the alleyways of downtown Bend is always fun to check out.
You might notice sculptures at all the roundabouts in town. Well, the Roundabout Art Route gets the credit. The sculptures (designed by local artists) are displayed throughout the city and feature various themes.
The monthly First Friday Art Walks draws art enthusiasts to explore the downtown galleries, enjoy live music, and meet with artists. Additionally, Bend hosts several annual arts festivals, including the Bend Summer Festival and Art in the High Desert, providing platforms for artists to share their work with the community.
if you’re moving to Bend as an artist, you’ll be surrounded by like-minded people.
9. Bend is a Great Place to Raise a Family
If you’ve kids (or plan to), Bend is a great place to raise them. Admittedly, it does seem like dogs outnumber kids, but that’s not to say that you won’t see kids on a daily basis in restaurants, breweries and on hiking trails.
Better still, Bend is rated among the safest cities in Oregonthe parenting style seems to be pretty relaxed because folks don’t have their guards up. The city is packed to the brim with family-friendly activities, year-round outdoor recreation and great schools. You’ll be raising a little nature nut if you end up moving to Bend to start a family.
Disadvantages of Living in Bend
1. Wildfire Season
Like I mentioned earlier, Bend is a mecca for outdoor enthusiasts but it can get troublesome during fire season. Evacuations aren’t common, but they’re typically on the radar for those living in Bend. This is something worth considering because the problem doesn’t seem to be improving.
Bend is located in the high desert surrounded by forests, so naturally the area is prone to wildfires. This became evident during the record-breaking wildfire season in 2020, when the hazardous air-quality in many Oregon cities forced people to stay inside for 4-5 days.
The constant fires and subsequent haze are reflective of changing weather patterns (climate change) and may get worse in future years. In my experience, July and August seem to be the worst months for wildfires. When wildfire smoke is in the forecast, the poor air quality gives me itchy eyes, coughing fits and overall fatigue. It’s not fun.
2. Reserved Locals
Like most cities experiencing rapid growth, a lot of long-term residents harbor resentment towards recent transplants. Bend is a great place to live and the secret is out, the recent influx of newcomers has caused Bend to grow from a small, remote town into a weekend destination.
This is understandable, when a town becomes popular the lines get longer and homes prices soar. You’re going to hear some grumbles! Since I’m sharing the honest pros and cons of living in Bend, Oregon, I want to be transparent about it.
I know the tendency is to focus on the negative, but there should also be some acknowledgement of the benefits of a growing city, too. Things like new restaurants, shops, school, jobs and diversity.
3. Living in Bend is (Super) Expensive
If you’re moving to Bend from a larger city you might find the prices in Bend incredibly reasonable. However, if you’re a local to Bend you probably know how much prices have increased over the years. Real estate hasn’t quite hit Jackson Hole prices yet but that seems to be the direction it’s headed.
The housing market is off the charts. We’re talking about starter 2-bedroom homes flirting with a million. The list price in Bend has increased by nearly 22% since last year alonewith median home prices at $812,400 in March 2024.
Compare that to median home prices of $530K in 2020 (record breaking highs at the time), and you can see how living in Bend is an expensive affair.
The surge in home prices reflects the city’s growing popularity as a desirable place to live. As demand continues to outpace supply, home prices are likely to remain high, making it an increasingly competitive market for buyers.
4. Lack of Diversity
In terms of racial diversity, Bend, has historically been predominantly White. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of the last available data, which is from 2020, approximately 88% of Bend’s population identifies as white. While efforts to promote diversity and inclusion are ongoing in Bend (city council is discussing options to make the city more diverse), there’s still progress to be made in making Bend more inclusive.
5. Limited Job Opportunities
Here’s the thing, with a population around 100K, Bend is technically a small town. As such, job opportunities aren’t as abundant as they’re in larger metropolitan areas. Making matter worse, Bend’s unemployment rate (4.5%) is slightly higher than the national average.
Bend’s economy is supported by a variety of sectors, including healthcare, tourism, technology, and outdoor recreation. Healthcare is a significant contributor to the local economy, with St. Charles Health System being one of the largest employers.
Additionally, the tourism industry, driven by Bend’s natural beauty and outdoor activities, creates numerous job opportunities in hospitality, retail, and related sectors.
Furthermore, Bend has emerged as a hub for technology startups and remote work, attracting professionals seeking a high quality of life combined with career opportunities. Overall, Bend’s hearty job market offers diverse opportunities for employment and career growth across various industries.
6. Bend is Remote
Bend is located in central Oregon, the closest large city is Portland, which is a 3-hour drive away. The high desert is beautiful but very remote. The advantage here’s that there’s a sizeable airport in Redmond (20 minute drive from Bend) that’s serviced by several major airlines like Alaska.
But still, whenever friends visit us in Bend, they often mention the automatic transfer they need to make from a larger airport, like Portland or San Francisco. Likewise, whenever we fly out to the east coast, we know there’s no way around a layover.
Pros & Cons of Living in Bend, Oregon (Summary)
In sum, these are the best pros and cons of living in Bend, Oregon
- Bend is a beautiful city
- The city is dog-friendly
- You’ll never go thirsty
- Bend is a mecca for outdoor enthusiasts
- Bend is an artsy city
- It’s a great place to raise a family
- There’s great food options
- Easy going and laid back culture
- The weather is gorgeous
- Bend is expensive
- The locals are reserved
- Bend is remote
- Wildfire season
- Lack of job opportunities
- Lack of diversity
Helpful Bend Articles
- Living in Bend: 20 Honest Pros & Cons of Living in Bend
- Things to Do: 20 Epic Things to Do in Bend
- Camping: The BEST Campgrounds in Bend, Oregon
- Hiking: 20 Best Hikes in Bend Oregon (and nearby!)
- Wine Bars: 10 Charming Bend Wine Bars to Visit
- Breweries: 15 Best Bend Breweries to Worth the Visit
- Coffee + Cafes: 8 Charming Cafes in Bend to Enjoy A Cup of Coffee
- Cocktail Bars: 5 Charming Cocktail Bars in Bend
- Waterfalls: 5 Amazing Waterfalls Near Bend Oregon
- Tumalo Mountain: Sunrise Hike to Tumalo Mountain
- Blue Pool: A Stunning Look at Bend’s Tamolitch Blue Pool
- Misery Ridge: Hiking the Epic Misery Ridge Trail
- Broken Top: Hiking the Epic Broken Top Trail to No Name Lake
Until next time!
Antonina
Newest on Bend
- Bend in Summer (The Complete Guide to Oregon’s Adventure Capital) Jul 2026
- Bend Weekend Itinerary (2 Days of Hiking, Breweries, and River Floats) May 2026
- Portland vs Bend: Which Oregon City Should You Visit? Apr 2026
- Best Restaurants in Bend, Oregon (A Local’s Guide) Apr 2026
- How to Hike the Misery Ridge Trail at Smith Rock Nov 2025
- Exploring Oregon’s Skylight Cave Like a Pro (+Helpful Tips) Nov 2025
Promoting how safe Bend is while complaining that it’s too white is hilarious.
City counsel is trying to make it more diverse. What’s that saying—the road to hell is paved with what?
Ha, that’s a lot of Bend to unpack in one comment. This one’s really about the everyday stuff I love here, the breweries, the trails and all the happy dogs.
No offense to anyone but this article sounds like it was written using info gleaned from Chamber of Commerce brochures from 20 years ago. As others have mentioned, Bend is crowded beyond the capacity of its infrastructure built decades ago for a town of 20,000 – it’s 120,000 now and that doesn’t include the thousands of year-round tourists who buy into the hype, so it’s effectively more like a town of 150,000 to 200,000. Four months of the year – July through October – smoke from wildfires is usually present; we basically have to check air quality monitors every day to see if it’s safe to go outside, and more often than not it’s not safe. I’d think twice about scheduling a vacation here during that period. In the winter, you better have a darn good 4wd or AWD drive vehicle to negotiate the black ice on Century Drive leading up to Mt Bachelor, and expect to sit in traffic a while on the way there. Developers run Bend, the local government takes its marching orders from them, about all the city council does is approve art installations for the many traffic roundabouts we have here. New housing development is bottom-line stuff, meant to enrich the pockets of a few while locals are packed in like sardines at exhorbitant prices in houses unlikely to last 20 years. Also, developers are not required to build new roads for ingress and egress, so these new developments dump thousands more cars onto existing streets and what used to be a ten-minute drive is closer to an hour now. And 300 days of sunshine a year!? What a laugh. Many move here believing that hype only to move away a year or two later because they can’t stand the cloudy, cold weather – we have real winters here, after all, it is a ski town. And high mountain trails are often snowed under until May or even June. This used to be a nice place but now it’s just another over-hyped consumer experience for the FOMO crowd and fodder for people writing “travel” articles. The only good thing about what’s happened here in the last 20 years is that the price of my house has more than quadrupled in value. I’ll be happy to sell it at that price to some newby so I can get out of here. Have a nice day.
Totally fair to see it differently. This one’s my own take on life here, and Bend’s growing pains are real, traffic and all. Appreciate you sharing what it looks like from where you sit.
I have read the pros and cons of living in Bend, OR but one must think there are pros and cons living anywhere. So its a matter of preference no matter what age or employment status is. I live in Florida where there is hurricane season from June-December, floods, scary lightning , and 99% humidity which starts in April! I have lived in Florida for over 30 years and still don’t understand why people want to come here. The beaches…sure but its still crazy hot not to mentioned crowded. I welcome the 4 seasons which Florida does not have. The cost of living here is high too, the home prices for sale or rent are about the same as it is Bend or any part of Central Oregon. My husband and I have visited Bend and loved it! Bend is so relaxed and beautiful, the people are friendly and I like that it is pet friendly. So many activities to do. If you like overcroweded theme parks, palm trees, traffic (which is horrible by the way), the increase in the homeless population, rude people, the list goes on. I dread hurricane season and the influx of people that come here mainly the snowbirds. My husband and I want to move to Central Oregon! Florida is NOT the sunshine state anymore.
Debbie, this made me smile. You’re so right that every place has its trade offs, it really does come down to what you can live with. Bend’s dry heat and actual seasons are a big part of why we love it here. Hope Central Oregon works out for you two, sounds like you already know it’s a good fit.
I stayed in a resort with family 40 mins outside of Bend two summers back. Beautiful country, too bad it’s ruined by gun nuts, who like to turn places that were ONCE ACTUAL viewpoints of mountains into gun ranges. Local guy at the resort told me how much he liked to go into the wilderness and ‘shoot muh gun’. There was a mass shooting in a Safeway there about a month after I left (look it up). The fires and smoke ruin the best season, and once you go into the oregon central wilderness, prepare yourself to see a landscape that has literally been half burnt down. My mother and I, who grew up in the NW, were astounded by the destruction.
Going through a month of smoke is far worse than any winter. I know someone whose sister went through a season in close proximity to major fires in Oregon but her house survived. She died in her sleep a couple years later. Smoke it about as unhealthy as it gets.
Of course, this can be true all over the American West these days thanks to clearcut land destruction by timber corporations over multiple decades. However, I think more of WA and BC’s forests are intact, but I could be wrong. Seeing across an entire crown of a mountain range that has been burnt is pretty sobering. Sorry, monogrowth creates insane fires, and old growth doesn’t burn, and the argument that liberals won’t ‘allow trimming’ of forests (code for cut down more old growth) is totally specious. Bend would be great if it were in Europe or the civilized far east. Everyone there will tell you how much they hate EVs. This is post-modern Oregon we’re talking about. And no, I’m not a fan of the let criminals go policies instituted in Portland and Eugene. Europe is more conservative than that crew. Seriously, just accept that America is over, especially europeans. You do NOT want to move here, unless you’re going to be a digital billionaire.
Art? You must be joking, although there are some great outdoors venues for music etc. It’s a tourist town, it’s not a city. Amazing the real estate has gone up that much, you may find yourself commuting to live in a house in a dry stick forest. Water matters, and you’ll find some in the rivers and lakes, all of which are beautiful, but Bend doesn’t really have green neighborhoods. It’s a desert. Mt Hood is amazing. I would move to the Dalles and the Gorge before I would move to Bend, although Bend does prob have more live entertainment coming through town. They really have done that right, as well as decent retail laid out well. (the stuff in town, not in the endless sprawl that radiates outward). The center of town is gorgeous, and I think I saw prices in the 500s two years ago. Those are apparently long gone. You want to live in the tow, nowhere else, unless you can develop some major acreage and hope you don’t get by a nutcases stray bullet or drive into a drunken nutcase.
Please stop moving to Bend. Although it’s a beautiful place to visit, the more people that move here, the more miserable it becomes to live here.
I get it, Bend has changed fast and the growth is hardest on the folks who’ve been here longest. My goal is just to give people an honest picture of what life here is like.
Healthcare is a huge problem. My wife and I have to fly to the Bay Area to get adequate care. Drs are leaving in droves but haven’t been able to find out what’s causing the exodus.
Antonina
Moving my family there in a few months, definitely looking forward to it. It is a bit expensive which will impact having spare cash around but I believe we should be okay both have solid places of employment in the healthcare fields. Were moving because of the Bend culture, outdoors, environmental conscious people, liberal population, smaller town feel, feeling part of a community etc. Just wondering since Bend is so rad does that in your opinion outweigh the cons specifically the higher cost of living?
Honestly, for us it’s outweighed the cost every single time. The trails, the dog culture, the community vibe, it’s worth the higher price tag in my book. But I won’t lie to you, the cost of living is real and it’s not for everyone. Sounds like you two have a solid plan though, that’s half the battle.
Thank you for taking the time to provide your unfiltered assessment of Bend. We have visited many times and continue to “think” about retiring there. The Pro’s and Cons are spot on to what i had written years ago to myself and wife. We are heading back up in few weeks and are seriously looking at Bend again and area’s outside ( Brasada Ranch Homes) . No clue what that area is like but i am working with a realtor and I like the fact its outside of Bend (20miles) and you get “little more “ for you money at this juncture and maybe not the attitude of the old local. I totally get why they feel they way they do by the way since any area that is desirable has experienced growth and higher prices ( its beats having town experience a decay)
Jim, that means a lot, thank you. Bend’s growth is real, and change is hard even when it comes from a place being wonderful. Twenty miles out for more space sounds like a smart move to explore. Good luck out there!
You forgot to say how people in Bend think they are better than everyone else. They treat poor people like they have the plague.
That hasn’t been my experience, can you elaborate?
Due to affordability, can you recommend any towns nearby to live in that might be reasonable? Spouse may be getting a forest service job in Bend.
Affordability is a real conversation in Central Oregon. Redmond, Sisters and La Pine are the nearby towns people look at most, I’d poke around local listings and see what fits your budget.
Great summary. Very helpful. Thank you.
Thank you! Bend is on my short list in the next year or so and it’s nice to read about the life in prospective places.
Good luck with the search, Bobby. Bend’s a special one, the access to the mountain and the river in the same day still gets me. Just go in knowing it’s a whole different pace than Portland, that surprises some people at first.
This article is fairly accurate. I’ve been a resident since 2013. The con that should be added is the increasing decline of any business that is service related. Expectations and availability are very low and prices are high. In some ways, a local “recession” would be a good thing to wash out bad businesses and change employee engagement.
Thank you for this article; much appreciated and well written. I’m one of those transplants to Bend; moving here 1 year ago. I’m a nature and wildlife photographer and I’m looking for amazing locations to shoot combinations of wildflowers, snow capped mountains with rivers or streams. Do you have any ideas on hikes like that, or have you written anything on it? I will also be doing the skylight cave hike sometime after the end of May. Thank you.
Glad you’re settling in well out there, Darrin. I don’t have a post specifically on wildflower and mountain photo spots, but I’d start with my 20 hikes near Bend roundup, there’s a good mix of terrain in there and some should give you that snow capped peak and water combo you’re after. Skylight cave sounds like a fun one, hope the light cooperates for you.
This is very very excellent
This is very very excellent
What is healthcare like? Quite an important one that has been left out.
Such a good question for anyone thinking about a move. Bend has St. Charles, the region’s main hospital, right in town, and it’s worth checking how your own insurance works there.
I think it sounds pretty good. Can’t go wrong with the hiking trails, and the beauty of nature. But you never mentioned Medical Care. Do you have a good hospital that can handle any emergency’s? Cancer, Heart Attacks etc. Thank you!!!
well done. good infonhughes@
Good article
Antonina,
I have lived in Oregon for most of my life and my mom and grandma lived in this area in as early as the 1950’s so our family has seen a lot of change. I just moved back 8 years ago after spending time In Montana and it is now hotter and drier than it was. We have had several years with terrible wildfires and smoky skies that make it unsafe to spend much time outdoors.
In fact, the only year that wasn’t awful for at least several weeks was 2022. We have been evacuated from our home due to nearby wildfire, and other times had to leave the area because the air tasted so disgusting and our windows were constantly filthy from soot. It’s not just from wildfires either. Long before wildfire season starts, the Forest Service starts burning slash piles and these ‘prescribed’ burns create smoky air on days that would otherwise be clear.
There are lots of pros and cons to living anywhere, but the air quality here is a big con. Air quality is compromised for sometimes three months out of the year. It’s a huge factor that people should consider when visiting or moving to the area.
Amber, you’re right that I didn’t touch on this and I should have. Smoke season is real and some summers are rough, no way around it. I still love it here but I won’t pretend those weeks of bad air aren’t a genuine con for anyone thinking about moving to Central Oregon.
Yay! I’m glad I took out all of those student loans and became a successful doctor and businessman. Now, I have plenty of opportunity to live anyplace I choose and don’t have to worry much about cost of living 🙂
11) The Old Mill district is a great place to shop and eat with river views and the three smoke stacks sporting the American flag atop create an iconic view.
This may be redundant but there is no direct air service to Portland from nearby Redmond Airport RDM.
Thanks, Babette. Redmond Airport’s flights page now lists Alaska direct from RDM to Portland, about 48 minutes (Redmond Airport, checked September 28, 2026). Routes change, so it’s worth a look before you book.
Shockingly there is no direct air service to Portland from RDM (Redmond).
Klamath falls is much much ulgier and there’s way less to do!
I’ve lived in Bend long enough that I have felt lonely at Pioneer Park, lol. Those days are gone for sure. Also I’m a homegrown more left than liberal, I hope.
How does bend compare to Klamath falls
Great article and even more informative comments. Me and my gal just went to Bend a few weeks ago on a lark. We’ve been thinking about relocating out of the SF Bay Area for a while and, after a weekend in Bend, we are/were considering it. But many of the comments on here are disconcerting.
For example, diversity? You guys really want it? Coming from the SF Bay Area I’ve seen what diversity does and, more worrying, what it is: Reverse racism. If this is the trend that Bend is heading in… it’s definitely a con. Diversity is getting your car broken into constantly, quality of life crime and petty crime exploding and going unpunished. Diversity is trash all over the streets and more riff raff and the problems they bring. No thanks!
The weather sounds a bit daunting too. Had no idea it was that cold so many of the months. Was thinking it would be nice to get back to 4 seasons but not sure about the sort of weather people in the comments are talking about. Maybe I’ll look at Tennessee like the other commenter said.
You said it. Liberal progressive politics change cities from safe, clean, family-oriented places into havens for bums, drug addicts, petty crime, and trash.
Funny thing is, the rich, white people who experience this white guilt and want to implement more “diversity” often live in gated communities. Just like the rich liberals of the SF Bay Area, they are pro “diversity” as long as it is not in their back yard.
I first moved to Central Oregon (Redmond) in 1974. Bend’s population was only 16,000 and the two major complaints were (1) Californians moving in and driving up the real estate prices, and (2) Third Street traffic and pot holes. I moved to the Willamette Valley for 20 years for a job that paid a living wage but eventually returned because Central Oregon is still a great place. If it wasn’t a great place people would stop coming. If it’s too crowded, too liberal, or too whatever, you can always move to John Day!
We just moved here from Sedona,Az
And we hope it is as you’ve stated! Safe, good place to raise a family with good hospitality!
Thank you~
If you have kids, you might want to consider that drug use among middle schoolers and high schoolers is prevalent and getting worse.
If you have kids, you might want to consider that drug use among middle schoolers and high schoolers is prevalent and getting worse.
As someone from Bend and being only in my 20s it is insane to see how much it has changed just in my lifetime. The house I grew up in once had fields behind it and is now filled with an astonishing amount of cookie-cutter homes. After travelling to Europe for a couple of months for someone with lots of local connections finding a job was nearly impossible and the rising prices of rent forced me out of my home town. It’s crazy to think that my rent in Portland is now cheaper than the small town of Bend.
Hi Dakota — I grew up in Portland and share the same sentiments! It seems that this happened all over the country (based on what some of my friends in the east coast have shared). Couldn’t agree more!
I grew up in New Jersey. Enlisted into the USAF in 1964 and served 3 years in Burns, Oregon (yes, Burns, there was an Air Force radar station in Burns once). My wife and I would drive to Bend every so often for pizza and beer at Shakey’s. We fell in love with Bend and decided to make Bend our home someday after we retired.
We retired in 1998 and wanting to leave the crime and dirt of life in ‘Jersey ‘ we moved to Bend.
In 1998 Bend WAS A BEAUTIFUL TOWN. The people, the living, the countryside, everything was perfect. Twenty two years later the population grew with transplants, and yes, we were transplants too, but these new transplants left their crime and dirty states and brought that culture with them and ruined the quaint living of Bend.
In 2020 we moved to Tennessee. Bend can now be classified as, ‘Little LA’ or ‘Little San Francisco. Anything other than ‘Little old Bend ‘.
Good article. I like the pros and cons approach. Too may articles only address the pros. Bend is still a great place but the growing pains is definitely stressing the town. The cons list is growing quickly.
The cost of living is skyrocketing. Lots of food choices is nice, but the cost of that food has blown up and comparable to resort prices. Used to pack lunches when going up to Bachelor and now its almost cheaper to eat up there than in town. Not to mention the cost of Bachelor exploding and no longer affordable.
Lots of dog friendly trails and lots of leashed trails with off leash dogs and owners that don’t train for recall or pick up after their dogs. Some at least pick up poop in plastic bags and then just toss it on the side of the trails along with wrappers and other trash.
As for the remoteness, that kills many people. Lots move here and then realize that the nearest big city is 2.5 hours away. We no longer have direct Portland flights like you mentioned, gotta connect in Seattle with sometimes longer layovers than it would take to drive.
Housing is unobtainable for many people. Average home is over 750K and rents are well above what the average income can afford. Plus, the quality of the construction in the cookie cutter mass produced homes is pretty poor compared to other places unless you can afford a million dollar + custom build.
Healthcare is a major con. Lots of people retire to Central Oregon. They also like to bring mom and dad with them. So you can imaging that the age of Central Oregon is trending on the older side. The problem with that is we have a health system that cannot provide the care they need. St Charles is at or near capacity on nearly any given day. retirement homes, nursing home, rehab facilities, home health services are all at breaking point and busting at the seams. A family that can no longer care for their aging parents doesn’t have much help unless they have lots of money left over after the already high cost of living. Need memory care or assisted living, get on the wait list early. and that goes for child care as well. Wait lists for preschools and if you can get a day care, nanny or sitter, it will also cost a small fortune.
I know I focused on a lot of negatives. Bend is a wonderful place to live. And there are lots of articles about the utopian society people portray it as. But it does have lots of negatives and people should know these before making the mistake of packing up their life and moving here without factoring them into their decision. I meet tons of people that say they never visited but heard how great it was from articles and pics online and decided to pack up the car and move here only to leave in under a year.
Try Carson City, NV
International airport in Reno, 395 south to the eastern Sierra. Large medical centers and gateway to the Great Basin and Range of central NV. !
To be more up to date,
Arc’teryx hippies 🙂
I am 20, and I still remember the Bend that was quiet and simply ethereal. I miss my home 🙁
Yep. A year later it all holds true. Very good analysis. I’ve lived here 11 years and am looking for a place that rivals Bend but have come up short
My only resentment as a Bend native is the speeding traffic. It’s a small town which means people still walk around and peoples driveways are still attached to the highway, everyone needs to slow down. ?✌️
Couldn’t agree more. I wanted to move to Bend for 30 years. After living there for 7 years I couldn’t get out fast enough. And I did.
Many of your positions are accurate. However the influx from other areas has vastly affected Bends culture. Not all good. We relocated there the fall of 1970 with two little fellows in tow. Great place then to raise those boys. Scouts, hunters satety great school sports. However it vastly evolved with years and unfortunately many new residents brought with them issues that prompted them to relocate in the first place. We left in 1996 and now live a little north of Tucson. We enjoyed what we believe were some of Bend,s best years.
Really excellent honest commentary I would add another con because of labor shortage you can do anything or get anything
Try Colorado. Boulder, Longmont, Ft. Collins, and in-between. BEST state in the US. Been here 40 years from SanFran. Too many Californians (me) and prices are high. No homes in town under $1M. Higher than Bend. Less than Aspen.
Good report and to the point on both the positive and the negatives so a fair shake to make a rational decision as to whether or not its the place you want to be.
It’s seldom easy to make a life and geographical change. Re growth, unfortunately since most humans are slightly unconscious with regards to the reality of worldwide overpopulation which we need to wake up to and address the migration of persons worldwide is a reality and has to be looked at in a serious manner ie regional population limits so as not to destroy what we cherish and also to be realistic as to how many persons can drink from one glass of water ( that being used as a metaphor) until there is NO more water.
It to much regional growth is a reality and unless excessive growth and expansion are not addressed, the very things people move to be a part of may be the things that disappear if not protected and properly overseen.
Good report and to the point on both the positive and the negatives so a fair shake to make a rational decision as to whether or not its the place you want to be.
It’s seldom easy to make a life and geographical change. Re growth, unfortunately since most humans are slightly unconscious with regards to the reality of worldwide overpopulation which we need to wake up to and address the migration of persons worldwide is a reality and has to be looked at in a serious manner ie regional population limits so as not to destroy what we cherish and also to be realistic as to how many persons can drink from one glass of water ( that being used as a metaphor) until there is NO more water.
It to much regional growth is a reality and unless excessive growth and expansion are not addressed, the very things people move to be a part of may be the things that disappear if not protected and properly overseen.
I lived in Bend in 1979-1983. Bend was beautiful then. A sleepy mountain town.
My friend who has lived for 40+ yrs loves the beautiful geography but the traffic, overpopulation and expansiveness really bothers her.
I wanted to move back but now I see how Bend has evolved…no thanks. Bend is a playground for the wealthy.
Hey, it was great to check back in and see someone responded to my comment that I was connected to my work years ago. Any chance you could forward my email address to David A. Sloan who responded to my comment months back? What I have noticed in the past six months of rocketing housing prices in Bend is that prices are starting to soften and people have had to lower some of their asking prices. That is a good thing for residents, although it seems like Bend is now way more expensive than the Portland area for housing.
I wanted to make a new comment about the requirement for hiking permits and how crowded hiking trails now are everywhere. Where I live in the Santa Cruz Mountains the trails now have double or triple the hikers than before Covid and the fires. Everyone discovered the outdoors and hiking during Covid which is good, and bad. I hate it. I especially hate the AllTrails app that let’s everyone post and find trailheads that were only know to locals. That being said, I also use it. Sigh. We can only hope these new hikers will return to other activities once Covid dies down, but I am not hopeful. Being outdoors is great if people respect the trails and learn the “leave no trace” practice. Maybe Bend can set-aside some permits for same day use that locals mainly can access. Having to plan ahead for a hike sucks if the trail is in your neighborhood! However, my guess is most of the area is controlled by state or feds so you have little say, like us in California.
I moved to Bend over 14 years ago with my three children, from Anchorage, AK. after my divorce because my mom lived here. Since moving here I have lived on the NE side of town and after 3 years moved to the NW side so my daughter was in walking distance of both her jobs, then at the 3 year mark the landlord issued a no cause order and we were forced to move again, this time to the SE side right next door to Fred Meyer, where again at the 3 year mark we received another no cause notice and were once again forced to move, this time back to the NW side across from the COCC Library. The apartment my youngest son and I share is a 1 bedroom, 507 sq. ft. apartment with no air conditioning, so with the wildfire smoke in 2020 and 2021, it has been like living in a sauna. My rent goes up again in December and I will be paying 55.6% of my income as a personal support worker towards rent. Eventually, we will be forced to leave Bend in search of a more affordable place to live, as will many others who are not making a living wage.
And who will be left to work in the restaurants, the bars, hotels, grocery stores, senior care facilities,etc. when those people can no longer afford to live in Bend?
Being on the other end of the money spectrum I can honestly say it has been a struggle living here, but being resilient and knowing how to live frugally I have managed over these 14 plus years to stay here and to keep a roof over our heads. My daughter and her boyfriend live in my complex, as well. Both have bachelor’s degrees and they still struggle to make ends meet, with the cost of medical co pays, student loans, not being paid enough money in their respective fields and the ever growing cost of living here in Bend. I hope to stay here until we can all move away somewhere affordable where we can thrive, not just survive.
Truth be told, if I could afford to move us all, we would have been gone awhile ago.
Bend isn’t all that, in my opinion. I grew up in Northern California and have lived in Hawaii, Germany and Alaska, and Bend ranks last out of all those places. I do think it is a beautiful place, but the roads are not well maintained, it is lacking in culture, diversity, and so on. The summers have become increasingly unbearable with the temperatures rising, the wildfires and drought, the number of houseless people continues to grow, rent is ridiculous, drugs and addiction, mental illness are also problems that need to be addressed, as safe places for these populations to get help are sorely missing in this community. And resources for struggling families who have children with disabilities are lacking here, as well. I speak from experience. So, someone who lives paycheck to paycheck Bend is not the ideal place to move.
Cat,
Thank you so much for your thoughtful comment, I’m sorry to hear about your plight. I agree, Bend isn’t affordable (housing costs are a huge culprit) and I do not know what the solution is. I hope you are able to find a city where your family can thrive, as you mentioned.
Housing seems to be affordable across the country and so many folks are struggling to find a reasonable place to live (especially with medical and student debt). I often find myself wondering how much worse things can get because we start seeing massive changes.
Your situation is unfair, especially since you are working for your keep. Yet sadly, your situation is not unique because so many of us are struggling to stay afloat even though we’re doing everything right.
Thank you again for sharing such a thoughtful comment, I am confident a lot of folks will find your honest perspective helpful.
Hi there. I just retired and am thinking of moving to Bend. I have a 29 year old son who is also contemplating moving there if I decide to move. He is bisexual and wondering if your community would welcome him and others in the lgbtq community. Thank you.
Beautiful pics and Bend story.
We’ve lived here for over 20 years and love so much about our little (getting bigger) city.
One thing I would like to mention is your comment on diversity.
The city cannot do anything more, in my opinion, on improving it.
It is what it is. Whomever wants to venture here is more than welcome at any time.
Trust me! I’m a brown Hispanic that adores the city, so really, like much that is mentioned today-
suggesting cities and governments to improve non-white numbers is kinda crazy.
People have choices and it is up to them to come to Central Oregon where I have never, ever
had any ‘racial’ problems. All are welcome!
While I’m happy to hear you’ve never personally had bad experiences, it’s beyond disingenuous to say there’s no problem with racism. There absolutely is – my mom was office manager at Summit HS since it opened and the stories she told me about entitle racist teens were abhorrent. Also, my family has been here for generations – racism has always been here. The reason the population is 93% white is because of Oregon’s history of racist policy – look up the exclusionary laws that were in our constitution. If we’re being transparent in these comments, don’t sugar coat the lack of diversity and the true history of this state.
Moved out of Bend late last year after living there for a few years: The town has a nice little downtown with great bike shops, a nice library and Shevlin Park. In the end the smoke from wildfires, overdevelopment in Northwest Crossing, crowded trails and a “resort feel ” with smug influx of second homeowners became too much. Now in Vermont…
Hi
I don’t have a printer. Possible to send me a written copy of your article. I am a retired lady who moved to Bend to be near her daughter. Thanks Patricia Lovering
Hi Patricia, I’m happy to send this to you via email! Would that work?
I came to Bend in 2004 and I have loved it since. I am disabled and can’t take advantage of the beauty that surrounds us. When I came here I marveled that there was snow on the mountains in August. I love the 4 seasons. I called, Spring physco spring because it can be 45 one day and 80 the next. All in all I agree with everything in your post.
I can’t stand going to big cities now.
Bend was never conservative, I grew up here! I know! Yes, Bend has a lot of Hicks, trashy people. Bend is very boring socially, you’ve got the retired, the people who grew up here and never left and the wanna be outdoorsy people. Very simple minded people, not a lot of intellectual stim. Bachelor is a joke, if you want a real ski mtn, don’t waste your time at flatulore.
You hit the nail on the head with many of your points! A few others are debatable but one was a swing and a miss: diversity.
Bend is extremely diverse, and you can both read and gather from the comments here. There are ski bums, retired seniors, outdoor lovers, homebodies, young families, grisled veterans, union workers, artists, funny people, happy people, grumpy people, you name it, Bend has it!
I was shopping at Trader Joe’s a few days ago and went back to grab a forgotten item while my wife was checking out. I had one of our kids with me so I didn’t make it to the checkout before the transaction had already processed, and a line had formed. The next lady in line, clearly one of the “snobby rich newcomer” types went right ahead and paid for my item along with her own before we even knew what had happened. Here’s where it gets back to your Diversity mistake. Nobody paid any attention to skin color. Nobody cares how much or how little melanin anyone else has.
Melanin amount is no indication of diversity, regardless of that narrative still being pushed by big media and certain elected and unelected officials decades after the country moved past it. Be the bigger person. Be the judged rich person in line who does a kind act just because that’s the type of thing that demonstrates God’s love in your heart and no other reason.
Truth spoken so well !,
I’ve lived in Bend for 24 years. Just waiting for my kids to graduate H.S. before I finally leave.
While, yes, many people love it here, it’s not uncommon for some to move here in the summer thinking it’s amazing only to find out when the cold comes it lasts a good 8 months of the year. It should also be mentioned that if there is an hour of sunshine with 23 hours of cloudy weather, it’s considered a “sunny day”. It’s a mistruth and marketing plot that is continually perpetuated. The weather is probably what I hate most about Bend – it’s a cold weather lover’s paradise. If that’s your thing then it might be a great fit for you!
Hi AP,
Thanks for offering this perspective!
Lived here my whole life. All the people who were born and raised here are not fans of the new transplants. The crime rate has gone through the roof. Multiple murders within the last year. One of which still has yet to be solved, or given any answers about. Dang dude or lady is walking around free. The homeless problem has gotten way way worse, the drivers have no patience. Growing up, bend and the surrounding areas used to be clean… not anymore.
Articles like this totally ignore the death of our Native, Oregonian, culture from the influx of “yay me, screw everybody else, including the Native Locals” attitude that these selfish, often rich, and always entitled, transplants bring to our town.
Why cant at least one of you write about the death of our culture rather than,”eff em and their culture, move there and force the Natives to deal with your crummy, selfish attitude”.
Out of curiosity, what is the native Oregonian culture and when was it established? Was the native Oregonian culture established before Christopher Columbus “re-discovered” America?
You may have been born and raised in Bend, but your parents (or their parents) made the decision to move here. Lucky you! Your family was able to experience Bend before people like myself were even born. Does that mean that I can’t enjoy Bend because I was born too late?
Not all people that move to Bend are “selfish, often rich and always entitled.” Some of us are regular folks looking to live in a beautiful town with ample outdoor opportunities.
The current Bend culture (which is 93% white) can stand to benefit from diversity. The culture isn’t dying, it’s reinventing itself, the way every other growing city does.
C’mon now. People aren’t trees with roots, we’re allowed to move around.
By diversity do you mean $ or lack of?
I grew up in Oakland California. You should move there. There’s a lot of diversity
A great place to live eventually goes from unknown to widely desired in 1-2 generations. Of course it will change and morph into something different than what it was 10,20,30,40 or 50 years ago, but the natural beauty of the surrounding landscape is still some of the most beautiful in the US.
I grew up in and around Bend, left to go serve in the military and eventually college. After which I got married, had kids and moved back. Is it more expensive than many places? Yes! Is it worth it? YES! Wonderful places eventually become popular and then expensive.
Like all other reasonable human beings, if someone can’t afford to live Bend, quit complaining and move somewhere you can be happy. We live in a very prosperous nation with so many ridiculous options. Sorry you can’t afford to live in Bend anymore. Sure glad I developed a much needed skill where I can make the kind of living where a place like Bend is a dream lived, not a dream lost.
I left Bend due to its lack of Diversity. Housing diversity, cultural diversity, food diversity, job diversity, and racial diversity. When that time comes where the local governance, and the locals themselves embrace diversity, and all the good and bad that comes with it, Bend will nevee be a good starting point for blue-collar workers, and will just be stuck in what it is now, a utopia for the well-to-do, and a dead-end for those who are not.
I find these comments really thoughtful; however, to be upfront, I am one of those dreaded Californians looking to move out of the Bay Area when I retire at age 70 next year. First off, I have been working with homeless youth and families in SF and San Jose for 40 years. So, I am really good at working with homeless populations and wouldn’t mind sharing my expertise in a new community as a volunteer.
I currently live in the Santa Cruz Mountains and the fires this past year just destroyed me emotionally, and destroyed 90% of my hiking area. I now have tech workers competing with my fellow mountain residents trying to rebuild one of the 1000 homes we lost. They have money to burn and we also resent them outbidding locals with all-cash offers way over asking. So, if we want a home we have to move.
I grew up in Sierra Nevada Mountains north of Yosemite so I am looking for a semi-rural area that I can afford, will have some healthcare for me, and doesn’t snow too much. Plus, I cannot handle worrying 6 months of the year about fires. Yes, Bend is on my short list. If I end up there, know that I bring my expertise on working with homeless people and I am a hike leader that loves to lead hikes for those scared to go out alone.
All Californians are not alike — but I understand that I am part of the problem in driving up prices in Bend, because I can now sell my Santa Cruz Mtn. home to some crazy tech worker who can work remotely and doesn’t worry about the fires. Also know that my family has been in the Bay Area or gold country since the 1800s and no one has ever lived out of California. I would not take leaving CA lightly. But I hope I would be welcomed, just like I welcome everyone who moved the SF area and into my home turf.
I have worked with Sparky…I know her well…She would be a huge addition to your community through her service…You should pray that she comes…
Hi Sparky…Hope all is well…
Hey Sparky,
You are spot on.
I am a native Southern California transplant of over 20 years living in Bend. I love Cali but, boy have things changed and not for the better! Yikes! I totally get what you are saying.
California is still in my heart, but sorry to say, the governments there have been failing the working class for many years.
You are so welcome here; you sound like some more awesomeness that Bend loves!
The air is magnificent!!
I’ve lived in Bend for 20 years. This town is great and the wildlife is awesome. But people can hardly move here because every house is priced at half a million and higher. Locals can’t buy, soon I’m gonna have to leave too.
The city never fixes the roads by the way. 3rd street has been broken on the north end for years. The city turned my street into a scenic byway instead of putting in sidewalks so I’m still likely to be hit by a car walking my dog but what else is new right? And speaking of dogs its only dog friendly here if you own your home. Finding a rent or that allows anything over 20lbs is impossible. I’m really lucky my landlord likes my big dog.
The growing season is short but doable. There are pot shops everywhere which is great and beer galore. But if you can’t drive in the ice and snow please consider a valley town, not a mountain town. The snow comes fast and hard then its gone, then its back, then gone again.
And fire season is a lot worse than this article says. There were days I couldn’t take my class outside because the air quality was toxic. The smoke turns the air yellow and it lasts for weeks. Fire season means no campfires at all the campsites too so remember that on your big outdoor adventure.
There is plenty to love about Bend and a lot to hate. But what locals REALLY hate is how expensive it is here. It didn’t used to be this way. My parents own homes here but 20 years has done a number. Many young locals who work here, are being forced to leave here. You can’t even rent without 2 roommates to be able to afford it.
So enjoy Bend while it still is Bend, because soon its just going to be rich white Californians, and the homeless people who sprinkle the streets. They won’t go by the way, not even in the winter. Don’t know how the city plans on helping them, so far they haven’t.
Chelsea,
Wow, this is very thorough! Thank you for taking the time to share your perspective on life in Bend. It sounds like you have called this city home for a while and have lived through many changes.
I agree on a lot of points you made, with the exception of wildfires. 2020 was an unprecedented year for wildfires in Oregon, as such the severity of wildfire season was much more extreme than normal. Don’t get me wrong, Bend has it’s fair share of wildfires annualy (it’s surrounded by forests) but before 2020, wildfire season wasn’t much to write home about.
During the raging fires of 2020, the air quality was toxic in Portland as well and folks weren’t able to go outside, but in my 20+ years of living in Portland, that was the first time that has happened. I want to be transparent about wildfires so folks can make an educated decision about moving to Bend. Wildfires happen, but they don’t typically stop day-to-day functions (with the exception of the record setting fires in 2020).
But as you know, the weather patterns are changing (climate change is real). I worry that Bend will become more and more prone to wildfires, similar to California.
I want to thank you for being so honest in your comment, I appreciate your perspective and am sure other folks will find it very helpful as well. Thank you for taking the time to share your insight.
Antonina
Do not overlook nearby LaPine to the south of Sunriver- near great fishing and rafting by the Deschutes And skittle Deschutes rivers and abundant trees ( so far).
Only about 35 min from Bend and still much more affordable. Diversity will come.
Bend opened it’s arms to me when my ex wife and I moved here in 2000. Raised my kids, built a house, built a career in community service.
Now staying here feels like swimming upstream. I make too much money for this to be the case, but I can’t afford it. And yes, all the places I used to go have been overrun for years. And I don’t hate Californians but I do hate the impact of their money and the culture changes that have happened. Bend locals weren’t reserved when we moved here. They were down to earth and friendly and humble. They still are but they are no longer The predominant culture. Instead it’s people from cities who don’t even know how to say hi on the trail.
It sucks, but when my youngest graduates high school, I’m leaving.
Scott I hear you. I was hoping to move to Bend from Carmel CA when my high schooler graduates ( talk about not being able to afford your hometown, it’s all Texas money here, it’s not just Bend) next year but I’m really unsure. Where else is there to go? I’m in dire need of ideas. Any appreciated. Visited CoeurDAlene, too cold. Help! Jan
1 of your comments was asking where to go in oregon. I have the answer. Powers oregon the hidden gem . Moved here from bend wow clean affordable snow cap mountain 4 months a year 1 hour to the beach. My garden plants are 8 ft tail come see for yourself
A lot of people are now moving to Redmond, 15 MLS down the hwy. This has been a lower cost town for years! Now? Housing, hotels, big business is taking over! Almost can’t afford to live here either! I wish we could monitor all of this in a better way.
Do not overlook nearby LaPine to the south of Sunriver- near great fishing and rafting by the Deschutes And skittle Deschutes rivers and abundant trees ( so far).
Only about 35 min from Bend and still much more affordable. Diversity will come.
I first moved to Central Oregon (Redmond) in 1974. Bend’s population was only 16,000 and the two major complaints were (1) Californians moving in and driving up the real estate prices, and (2) Third Street traffic and pot holes. I moved to the Willamette Valley for 20 years for a job that paid a living wage but eventually returned because Central Oregon is still a great place. If it wasn’t a great place people would stop coming. If it’s too crowded, too liberal, or too whatever, you can always move to John Day!
Jim, I love your take on this and am intrigued to hear that the two most common complaints from the 70’s are exactly the same as they are today (how interesting!).
Wow you think that’s why locals are put off . This town was never a uncultured town rich people needed to fix ! It was a town where snowboarding and hippies growing weed was the essence! Now it is rich people who think oh wow this was not a liberal town until we moved here !
Get real, you bought the town and now no one can live here but you ! Build another pointless building why don’t you . We don’t need trees in this town just more buildings and less affordable housing!
Bend is a beautiful place but the new people moving here have to much money to compete with. Most local people who grew up here can’t afford million dollar homes and are forced to move from the place they grew up and love.
This has affected the enjoyment this town once offered. We now must register and there are a limited amount of passes given daily to walk in our forest and use our trails to prevent the over population from destroying the wildlife and land . That means no more packing the car last minute and heading out for a weekend of camping like ur in a forest.
It now resembles a beach in California! Hopefully u can get a tiny little spot in between some people. So with that said Bend is now focusing purely on the rich and making them as happy and at home as they possibly can .
Trees in the city get cut down all day long for new ugly stuff there building or sewer lines ! So if you have a lot of money and don’t mind displacing all the locals who do not have the resources to compete this is the place for you !
I think smoke season is an under rated con. In a bad wildfire year the air quality can go to hazardous for weeks.
I do agree with you on that front, especially after the last few years, I’ve updated the article based on your recommendation. Thanks, Erik!
I’ve lived in Central Oregon for 18 years and have definitely seen the ups and downs of life here. While I mostly agree with your article, there are a few missteps.
-There’s not a lot of fall color here. Certainly not a lot of maples and larches. Maybe in the Columbia River Gorge, but not down here. Bend is primarily pine forest and the outlying areas are Juniper forest and high desert. There are pretty colors along the river or in residential areas.
-The population of Bend is technically only 92,000- not quite 100,000 yet- but if you count the outlying areas then it feels bigger. We currently live in Redmond which is almost half the price of Bend and only 15 minutes away.
Overall it’s a great view of life in Central Oregon. When we moved here we heard it described as “poverty with a view” which certainly hasn’t changed for most working class people. Unless you’re self-employed, retired or work in real-estate, you’ll have a hard time making it, here.
The pro’s are real, though! Just to keep it positive.
I’ve been living in Bend for 3 years now, semi retired, with children and grandchildren here. Pro’s-it is such an easy place to live if you don’t have to many financial constraints. Con-Housing costs are out of control and new housing is everywhere, but not impacting the demand to bring down costs.
Con-winter lasts 8 months, no joke. They say it’s not bad weather just bad clothes. Pro-no matter the season the sun is shining. Con-lack of diversity is an understatement. No diversity, zero. My grandchildren are being raised here but it would be a deal breaker for me to raise kids in such a homogenized community. That being said it feels like a warm open arms environment.
Education??? I haven’t looked at the numbers in regards to how education is measured on a national level but I have heard many parents complain about their kids math and writing skills being low. They have stated they were surprised to realize this. The changes in educating over the past year has opened their eyes to some real deficits in their children. They are helping their kids improve skills that go further back than the pandemic.
I have not read all the other comments, but as a person who has lived on both coasts, and has been here in Bend for 16 (happy) years, here are some of my thoughts on the con side:
lack of culture is evident; roads, both current conditions and planning for the future, are poor;
for 6 months the average lows are in the 20″s…for 4 more months, lows are in the 30’s–that’s 10 out of 12 months!!;
And guess what? A lack of humidity is almost as bad as too much humidity. Wondering why your eyes are scratchy?? Answer, low humidity. Dust!!
Hope this is useful to others..
I do love Bend for many reasons including the ones above. I would add a few to the cons list though. While the weather is beautiful often there is another side to it. Be prepared to wear every season of clothing in a 24 hr period as temp rise and fall drastically from day to night.
Gardening or growing your own food is hard to do here as most of the year could see frost at night. There is little to no moisture. The climate is a bit harsh between the dryness, elevation and intense sun. Be prepared to wear sunscreen year round and go from dressing in winter gear at night to being baked by day. I go through bottles of lotion.
Also the alcohol culture here is overly accepted and repetitive. It seems like everyone has to drink to socialize. Not much in the way of museums and such.
A great article. My wife understands both sides of the equation when it comes to those that great up in Bend versus the new transplant. We move to Bend part-time back in 2017 and every year we increase our stay. It started out as a vacation spot to being more like 8 months a year.
Both my wife and I were born in San Diego in the late ’50s. It’s hard to put into words but for most of our lives, we enjoyed a sleepy beach town/city which is now a major city with major traffic. We can totally understand what few natural-born Bend residences are going through.
It’s all perspective, coming from a major city I see very little traffic.
Last note. I was curious about why Bend is a transplant like city. I’d meet really cool people then they’d move. As a lover of Anthropology I read Bend was always a pit stop. Ppl would camp at Farewell Bend to regain strength and continue onward. It’s kept that in its environment.
You go to Eugene, it’s very rooted. But Bend, you’ll never see the same ppl unless you’ve rooted here. Ppl stay about a year here. I’d be intrigued to do more research survey on this. 🙂
Transplant is why I brought this up, it’s close to transient, for me.
But yes, everyone seems to be on the same page about cons. Another interesting note. While you try to shed some positivity on pros and cons, it’s got many of us pointing out more negatives strongly. But to which I am involving myself in as well. I think of it as being a realist.
Exactly. There is a major influx of Californians who try to reimplement everything they ever ran away from. In addition, more recently a left wing city council was voted in which seems to promote more diversity. The result is an exploding homeless population and all the associated crimes. Those lefties seem to be able to ruin every nice town on the west coast. My wife and I are looking to move to Wyoming.
The new permit system on the hiking trails was the final drop in the bucket. We were able to book 1 hiking trip for the Summer…it will be in September.
Eh, I’ve lived here a long time and there has always been a lot of homelessness. I don’t see a diversity of the homeless population either. Homelessness has more to do with lack of mental health and no affordable housing. Most jobs here don’t pay enough to live here. You have to have money before you come, work remotely or be in the health and development businesses.
Well said Mary!
The best part is the conservative locals are leaving.
Oh Yeah, those conservatives really mess things up. Liberal Democrats are such smart, intellectual, law abiding, caring and inclusive people. Lovely crapholes like LA (Gang Infested and Homeless Ridden Craphole), SF (One of the Most Beautiful Cities in the World turned into a Festering Drug Addicted, Homeless, Crime Ridden, Stagnant Cesspool of Democrat Doom… also the Home of Dirtbag Nancy Pelosi), Portland (The Capital of Liberal Nutcases and Home of Antifa aka little soy boys dancing around in their underoos), Seattle (Who Can Forget the “Summer of Love” and the Ever Popular CHOP Zone led by a Heavily Armed, Homophobic Wanna Be Rapper), Las Vegas (AKA L.A. North), NY (Most Corrupt Craphole with Crime 2nd only to Chicago), Philly (A+ Craphole with Decent Cheesesteaks) Baltimore (The King Crab of Crapholes) Chicago (Deadly War Zone), Atlanta (Southern Fried Craphole), Minneapolis (Starter Kit Craphole) and last but not least…St. Louis (Rioting Craphole with Corrupt Soros Appointed D.A.), What do ALL OF THESE CITIES HAVE IN COMMON YOU ASK? They are mostly run by token diversity hires who are corrupt halfwits who have a track record of destroying whatever they touch. So when you say the “best part” is conservatives leaving forgive me if I have to laugh. You liberals are the biggest crap show on planet earth. We can only hope that Bend Oregon is spared from the deadly malignancy that is liberal democrat policies.
Sincerely,
A ZERO BS Conservative.
David,
Thank you for the kind words! I’m glad to hear you agree with these pros and cons too. They’re not the same for everyone but seems like we had a similar experience. 🙂
Lenny — you are so right!! I need to include that somewhere in the article! I love that fact too. 🙂
Brian,
This is a great point, do you have resources folks can check out to become more informed on this? Perhaps recent transplants would be interested in being involved with local government, I know I was!
The problem isn’t really the growth (although it is a problem as it is adding to the amount of poverty and congestion) – it’s that the city has no expansion plan. Housing density is off the charts, traffic is dangerously fast and crowded, and there is no blueprint for how to accommodate the rising influx of remote workers and families. The city management gets a pass every time because everybody ignores the fact that they’re setting us up to fail.
Brian,
This is a great point, do you have resources folks can check out to become more informed on this? Perhaps recent transplants would be interested in being involved with local government, I know I was!
Ben,
Thank you for sharing your perspective. I think it’s very important for folks to have the knowledge only long time residents can share. I’m sorry to hear that Bend has changed so much during your time there. As with all great things, it was discovered and now folks want this little slice of heaven for themselves. I hear you and understand your perspective 100%.
The discovery of a great town is an age old problem we have yet to solve. Everyone wants to live in a beautiful place that speaks to who they are. However, by so many “new” folks moving in, it completely changes the feel and narrative of the town. I’m so conflicted about that!
We were all “new” once and even those that were born and raised in Bend probably didn’t have a say in the matter because they were kids — but there is clearly a deep sense of loyalty and pride in being a Bend native and now that the city has changed drastically it’s easy to cast blame on everyone “new” that is moving to the city in the same way that current locals did 20 years ago, or maybe their parents did before them.
I don’t know what the solution is and often ask myself how Bend can remain a quaint little town now that everyone knows how great it really is?
I want you to know that I hear what you’re saying while also understanding the perspective of the folks that want to live the very life you were fortunate enough to enjoy in Bend. I hope that makes sense, and again — I am very appreciative of your input on living in Bend.
Antonina
This was a great response as the comment of frustration is completely understood. We moved to a small town on the coast, one that most ppl fail to visit, and locals are fine with that. 😉
But 1989 we moved up from Santa Barbara and the Oregon coast is definitely opposite of CA beaches. I left the state to be in the Army, then went to school in LA. LOVE DIVERSITY. My hometown was all white and I experienced culture shock going to Savannah GA. Missing Oregon, I came back after 10 years to a place I never saw myself, in Bend. In Army times I read Bend Oregon was 5th fastest growing city, and I was deployed in 05. I was shocked, bc Bend was too cowboy for me growing up. Now I’ve been back 7 years. My rent is nearly that of LA when I left in 2013.
The cons are still flooded with fluff. There’s a true housing crisis, homeless crisis, and it’s not about a certain political party, it’s about the constant desire of selling a city that has no infrastructure to sustain it. I’m seeing another hotel going in near the water park. The locals are being pushed out and that’s because money trumps humanity. I’m glad you point out the positive light in the cons, but I think poverty doesn’t need fluff, it needs to be a real stab of reality here. I’ve been at food banks, and I’m a veteran, OSU-C graduate.
There’s too much money from satellite companies… ppl who fly to silicon valley to work, but live here bc it’s cheaper. Those work taxes don’t get implemented into our city. Ppl working out of state but reap the “cheaper” rent are becoming an issue for a town that fails to be progressive with the influx of ppl moving here.
I get where the locals come from, we have a culture here, and it’s not 24/7 service, and that’s a real inconvenience for those moving here from larger cities. If some of things ppl are leaving, stayed where they left them, I think others wouldn’t battle the influx.
At the end of the day, climate change will force ppl to migrate north, and unfortunately gems will be used and abused, it’s finding common ground and for that, you’re completely right with your response-
I was born and raised in Bend 46 years ago. I just moved away from the town I once loved. For me the cons eventually outweighed the pros. Call me a reserved local if you will.
Cost of living is insane, these beautiful outdoor places where you once had it to yourself even on a Saturday is now so busy on a Wednesday you can’t even park or it’s like finding a sliver of sand to claim at Waikiki, any undeveloped land, side streets are infested with drug addicted transients with mounds of garbage, transplants coming by the droves take it upon themselves to change laws and make Bend “even better”, the only wave you get now days driving is with the middle finger,
Anyway I could go on………enjoy Bend.
Ben,
Thank you for sharing your perspective. I think it’s very important for folks to have the knowledge only long time residents can share. I’m sorry to hear that Bend has changed so much during your time there. As with all great things, it was discovered and now folks want this little slice of heaven for themselves. I hear you and understand your perspective 100%.
The discovery of a great town is an age old problem we have yet to solve. Everyone wants to live in a beautiful place that speaks to who they are. However, by so many “new” folks moving in, it completely changes the feel and narrative of the town. I’m so conflicted about that!
We were all “new” once and even those that were born and raised in Bend probably didn’t have a say in the matter because they were kids — but there is clearly a deep sense of loyalty and pride in being a Bend native and now that the city has changed drastically it’s easy to cast blame on everyone “new” that is moving to the city in the same way that current locals did 20 years ago, or maybe their parents did before them.
I don’t know what the solution is and often ask myself how Bend can remain a quaint little town now that everyone knows how great it really is?
I want you to know that I hear what you’re saying while also understanding the perspective of the folks that want to live the very life you were fortunate enough to enjoy in Bend. I hope that makes sense, and again — I am very appreciative of your input on living in Bend.
Antonina
This was a great response as the comment of frustration is completely understood. We moved to a small town on the coast, one that most ppl fail to visit, and locals are fine with that. 😉
But 1989 we moved up from Santa Barbara and the Oregon coast is definitely opposite of CA beaches. I left the state to be in the Army, then went to school in LA. LOVE DIVERSITY. My hometown was all white and I experienced culture shock going to Savannah GA. Missing Oregon, I came back after 10 years to a place I never saw myself, in Bend. In Army times I read Bend Oregon was 5th fastest growing city, and I was deployed in 05. I was shocked, bc Bend was too cowboy for me growing up. Now I’ve been back 7 years. My rent is nearly that of LA when I left in 2013.
The cons are still flooded with fluff. There’s a true housing crisis, homeless crisis, and it’s not about a certain political party, it’s about the constant desire of selling a city that has no infrastructure to sustain it. I’m seeing another hotel going in near the water park. The locals are being pushed out and that’s because money trumps humanity. I’m glad you point out the positive light in the cons, but I think poverty doesn’t need fluff, it needs to be a real stab of reality here. I’ve been at food banks, and I’m a veteran, OSU-C graduate.
There’s too much money from satellite companies… ppl who fly to silicon valley to work, but live here bc it’s cheaper. Those work taxes don’t get implemented into our city. Ppl working out of state but reap the “cheaper” rent are becoming an issue for a town that fails to be progressive with the influx of ppl moving here.
I get where the locals come from, we have a culture here, and it’s not 24/7 service, and that’s a real inconvenience for those moving here from larger cities. If some of things ppl are leaving, stayed where they left them, I think others wouldn’t battle the influx.
At the end of the day, climate change will force ppl to migrate north, and unfortunately gems will be used and abused, it’s finding common ground and for that, you’re completely right with your response-
A great place to live eventually goes from unknown to widely desired in 1-2 generations. Of course it will change and morph into something different than what it was 10,20,30,40 or 50 years ago, but the natural beauty of the surrounding landscape is still some of the most beautiful in the US.
I grew up in and around Bend, left to go serve in the military and eventually college. After which I got married, had kids and moved back. Is it more expensive than many places? Yes! Is it worth it? YES! Wonderful places eventually become popular and then expensive.
Like all other reasonable human beings, if someone can’t afford to live Bend, quit complaining and move somewhere you can be happy. We live in a very prosperous nation with so many ridiculous options. Sorry you can’t afford to live in Bend anymore. Sure glad I developed a much needed skill where I can make the kind of living where a place like Bend is a dream lived, not a dream lost.
Thank you, Ramon!
Both my daughters were born and raised in South Orange County, California.
In the last 4 years both have moved to Bend.
They are very hard working Women and successful…employed in Bend!
They absolutely DO NOT have a “sense of entitlement” being that they were born and raised in California!
People born and raised in Bend need to “get off their soap boxes” about Californians and welcome ALL with “open arms!”
Bend is available to EVERYONE!
A serious oversight indeed… Will have to update! 😉
Cheers,
Antonina
True statement, thanks for posting fact.
How did the last Blockbuster on earth not make the “pros” list?
A serious oversight indeed… Will have to update! 😉
Cheers,
Antonina
Yes Bend is wonderful place on earth. About 8 years ago pro-growth proponents started in earnest advertising Bend as a place to live. People who wanted out of high tax and regulatory states began to move here and they brought their politics with them. Bend used to be very conservative town but has now become liberalized. And that is reason the long time residents are a little put off. So Bend has now become the place you tried to escape.
True statement, thanks for posting fact.
Exactly. There is a major influx of Californians who try to reimplement everything they ever ran away from. In addition, more recently a left wing city council was voted in which seems to promote more diversity. The result is an exploding homeless population and all the associated crimes. Those lefties seem to be able to ruin every nice town on the west coast. My wife and I are looking to move to Wyoming.
The new permit system on the hiking trails was the final drop in the bucket. We were able to book 1 hiking trip for the Summer…it will be in September.
I am a native Oregonian and I voted for the “liberal” Bend council members. These folks were voted in, not given the positions. Also, voters aren’t asked where they most recently lived before Bend so its a big assumption to make that our new council members are due to Californians moving here.
Homelessness has existed in Bend for a long time. The great recession saw a similar increase due to increase in unemployment. We have seen a recent increase due to unemployment and housing shortage. To blame it on the new council members is pretty funny since they have held their positions for a couple months. The new council with old council members is trying to make more short-term housing and approve low income housing = trying to house the homeless.
As a long time local, I like seeing people that look different then me (light skinned European-American) living in my community. If Bend is too Liberal or too diverse for Bend residents, they can move to many other Oregon towns that hold similar isolationist values. I don’t like all the ways Bend is changing and I welcome more diverse voices when thinking of Bend’s future.
Well said Mary!
The best part is the conservative locals are leaving.
Eh, I’ve lived here a long time and there has always been a lot of homelessness. I don’t see a diversity of the homeless population either. Homelessness has more to do with lack of mental health and no affordable housing. Most jobs here don’t pay enough to live here. You have to have money before you come, work remotely or be in the health and development businesses.
What is the permit system what a nightmare. I’ve been waiting to move to Bend for 19 yrs with my soon to be college student. I’m a single ma and have also looked at Wyoming as I’m conservative and cannot stand lib run cities they are just getting ruined. Any ideas for me in Wy? I need to get near a college. Ps. My it’s not all Californians moving there right? Calif is literally south of the border now. Open gates. Pray that doesn’t spread.
yes absolutely! Good call
Bend was never conservative, I grew up here! I know! Yes, Bend has a lot of Hicks, trashy people. Bend is very boring socially, you’ve got the retired, the people who grew up here and never left and the wanna be outdoorsy people. Very simple minded people, not a lot of intellectual stim. Bachelor is a joke, if you want a real ski mtn, don’t waste your time at flatulore.
You must not be very old, because Bend was traditionally Republican until fairly recently. Political changes started with the mass influx of liberal Californians that started moving to the area in the 90s, and it has snowballed in recent years due to huge advertising efforts in the Bay Area and LA for people to relocate to Central Oregon. It didn’t take long to turn the county blue, due to the hordes of progressive Cali transplants moving in, and it shows in all the dramatic ways Bend has changed for the worst in recent years. The negative way you speak about long time locals, I’m betting you weren’t born in Bend, and may have grown up there only because your parents moved there from California.
Exactly, It had always been artsy and relaxed and real. Now we have what I call the Patagonia hippy. I grew up coming to ski Mt. Bachelor now I couldn’t afford a lift ticket. It’s sad the big diversity is in INCOME.
Great article! I lived in Sunriver in the 90s and going to town was going to Bend. It was a comfortable cow town back then sounds like it’s grown up somewhat.
The beauty of a high desert is probably a bit of a shock to those that grow up in wetter climates. I enjoyed living there and I think it’s a good place to raise a family too.
Sunriver is SO beautiful, I visit every chance I get! And yes, Bend is a really great place to raise a family.
I lived in Bend for 2.5 years and it’s a fun town. Great downtown, healthy food stores. Many people do live in outer towns like Redmond which is cheaper. There are a lot of commuters which bring up a con. Bend has serious traffic issues.The trains run thru several times a day which shuts down many streets causing congestion.
In the short time I was there the increased drastically.
With the new high school its worse.
It was great though.
Having relatives in Camas WA, I see a visit to the PNW coast in my future w/ possible real estate shopping. What negatives are there re: salt on homes, plants and vehicles if close to ocean? How far do you have to be from coast to avoid salt damage? What building mat’ls are resistant?
Bend is on 2 mountain ranges away from the ocean, 5-6 hour drive, possibly more if you’re traveling in the winter. No salt here except for the de-icers in winter.
You might be thinking of North Bend. Which ironically is 6 hours southwest of Bend. Absolutely no connection between the two.
Signed, Bend Lifer
I was looking forward to read it has the last Block Busters in the U.S.!!! That is amazing in itself!! Bend looks like a beautiful, calming place to live!
Lenny — you are so right!! I need to include that somewhere in the article! I love that fact too. 🙂
Great point, Gordon! Thanks for stopping by 🙂
Cheers,
Antonina
Great article! Please note that the Redmond airport is NOT serviced by Southwest Airlines.
Only Delta, United, Alaska, American, Allegiant and Boutique air are serviced at the airport.
Great point, Gordon! Thanks for stopping by 🙂
Cheers,
Antonina
This is an excellent summary of Bend-life. Thank you. We’ve lived here for 3 years, and can easily see and feel each of the pro, and the con, points. A very good job, and service to those considering living in (or near) Bend
David,
Thank you for the kind words! I’m glad to hear you agree with these pros and cons too. They’re not the same for everyone but seems like we had a similar experience. 🙂
yes! lived here since 1996
You failed to mention the rapidly increasing homeless population and tent cities all over town; the need for a permit to use the hiking trails; the necessity to reserve campsites months in advance; and the lack of parking downtown.
How does bend compare to Klamath falls
KFalls isn’t comparable. Outdoor opportunities are less crowded. Birding is great. Not Yuppie. A plus ! Excellent higher ed like Bend. Oregon Institute of Technology. Has had public transit for decades. Much Less spendy housing. Close to Medford. Conservative.
The food here is absolutely horrible. Literally, horrible. Every restaurant is the same menu over and over and is completely lacking of any flavor what so ever. You guys can’t even do tacos right. FYI, street tacos aren’t served In a cold flimsy FLOUR tortilla with lettuce and cheese. I couldn’t disagree more with #7.