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Searching in: Bend, OR
Full-time residents · 6th-largest city in Oregon
Bend is the county seat
Founded as a logging town on the Deschutes River
Primary: 97701 (central/east); also 97702 (south), 97703 (west)
High desert east of the Cascade Range
Plus 0.25 sq mi water (Deschutes River, Mirror Pond)
Primarily owner-occupied; much lower seasonal vacancy than coastal cities
Below state average due to high home prices
Younger than Oregon statewide median
Via US-26 E + US-97 S · typically 3+ hour drive
33 schools · 18,400+ students · 5th-largest district in Oregon
292-bed Level II trauma center; only Level II east of the Cascades
Redmond Municipal / Roberts Field · ~20 mi N · commercial service
High desert · ~12" annual precipitation · sunny ~300 days/year
Tech, healthcare, recreation economy; well above state median
Deschutes National Forest borders city · Mt. Bachelor ~22 mi · Smith Rock ~25 mi
Bend is the largest real estate market in Central Oregon and one of the most dynamic in the state. With ~100,000 residents, ~41,000 housing units, and a median home value of approximately $718,400 (2024 ACS), it is a substantially larger and more active market than most Oregon cities outside the Portland metro.
Market fundamentals reflect Bend’s evolution from a logging town to a tech, healthcare, and outdoor-recreation hub. The city has posted double-digit population growth every decade since 1990, driving sustained demand for housing. Median household income of $96,394 is well above the Oregon state median, though housing costs have risen faster than incomes — which is reflected in the 61.7% homeownership rate (below Oregon state average).
Unlike coastal markets dominated by seasonal second homes, Bend’s housing stock is primarily owner-occupied year-round. That said, tourism and short-term rental activity are material in some neighborhoods, particularly the Old Mill District and areas near Mt. Bachelor. Market prices and inventory shift quarter-to-quarter with broader conditions; the market snapshot at right uses live Oregon Datashare data via our MLS integration rather than static figures that could go stale.
Note: Market statistics activate with our MLS integration and refresh automatically from Oregon Datashare (MLSCO) data. The housing units figure is from the 2020 Census and will remain static.
Quick answers about Bend, each backed by an authoritative source. For questions specific to a particular property or listing, call (800) 256-9702 to reach a licensed Oregon broker.
Bend had a population of 99,178 residents as recorded in the 2020 Decennial Census, making it the 6th-largest city in Oregon. Recent Census estimates place the 2024 population above 103,000, reflecting continued rapid growth since 2020.
Bend was officially incorporated on January 19, 1905, initially as a logging town on the Deschutes River. The name comes from pioneers who knew the area as “Farewell Bend” — a fordable crossing point where the river bent. The city’s economy shifted from timber to recreation and technology beginning in the 1970s.
Yes. St. Charles Bend is a 292-bed Level II trauma center and the flagship hospital of St. Charles Health System. It is the only Level II trauma center in Oregon east of the Cascades, serving a 32,000 sq mi region including all of Central and Eastern Oregon. St. Charles is Central Oregon’s largest employer.
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