Bend, OR

Bend’s 2024 median household income was $96,394, while the city’s 2024 population was 103,390, and Census QuickFacts reports a 2019-2023 median household income of $88,792 for the city (Census QuickFacts^[1]). Oregon has no statewide sales tax, but it does have a state income tax, and Bend buyers should expect property taxes set at the county/local level rather than a city-specific tax rate (Oregon Department of Revenue^{[2?] (unconfirmed source)}). For groceries and overall consumer prices, the Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes metro-level CPI data rather than city figures, so any local cost-of-living reading should be treated as metropolitan and not city-only (BLS CPI^{[3?] (unconfirmed source)}).

Bend’s main hospital anchor is St. Charles Bend, the primary acute-care hospital in town and the local destination for emergency and inpatient care (St. Charles Health System^{[4?] (unconfirmed source)}). For specialty care, residents commonly rely on the broader St. Charles system and referral networks in larger Oregon metros, since rural-central Oregon has a thinner specialist bench than bigger retirement markets (St. Charles Health System^{[5?] (unconfirmed source)}). Medicare Advantage availability changes each plan year, but Bend is served by Oregon plans offered through the Medicare Plan Finder and major carriers in the state marketplace (Medicare.gov Plan Finder^{[6?] (unconfirmed source)}).

Bend’s annual precipitation is about 10.6 inches, and the city’s normal year includes highs around 84°F in July and lows around 23°F in December (PlainClimate^[7]). The same source describes roughly 300 sunny days a year and a comfortable outdoor season that is strongest from late spring into early fall, when golf and hiking are most reliable (Central Oregon Weather^[8]). In practical retiree terms, Bend is best for people who like four distinct seasons, dry air, and big day-night temperature swings rather than coastal humidity (U.S. Climate Data^[9]).

The FBI Crime Data Explorer is the correct agency source for crime comparisons, but a directly opened Bend city page with current city-level violent and property-crime rates is not given here (FBI Crime Data Explorer^{[10?] (unconfirmed source)}). Because agency reporting became voluntary and incomplete after 2021, Bend should not be substituted with a third-party estimate without a confirmed city or county FBI page. If you want a usable number set later, the safest fallback is a county-level FBI or Oregon agency report that explicitly identifies Deschutes County (FBI Crime Data Explorer^{[10?] (unconfirmed source)}).

The Bend metro area showed a 1-year FHFA House Price Index change of 0.65% in 2026Q2, confirming continued but modest price growth at the metro level (FHFA^[11]). Bend’s median owner-occupied home value was $646,800 in Census QuickFacts, while the Bend metro median was $631,000 (Census QuickFacts^[1]). Recent Bend market reports put the median list price around $730K to $853K and median days on market around 36 to 72 days, depending on the data source and month, so a comfortable single-family budget near the mid-$600Ks is plausible but not especially abundant in the core city market (Zillow^[12]) (Realtor.com^[13]) (Bend market report^[14]). Bend also has at least one 55+ community listed, Cascade Village, which is a clear sign that active-adult options exist locally even if they are limited in number (NewHomeSource^[15]).

The nearest commercial airport is Roberts Field in Redmond, about 25 kilometers from Bend, which makes it the practical air gateway for the city (Time and Date^[16]). For retirees who value nonstop access, that means Bend is not a hub market and direct service is more limited than in larger metro areas; many East Coast and Midwest trips will involve a connection through a larger Western hub (BTS^{[17?] (unconfirmed source)}). The airport is convenient for regional travel, but it is not comparable to a major hub airport market (Time and Date^[16]).

The Bend area has multiple public and semi-public golf options within a short drive, including well-known courses that market to active local players rather than pure private-club exclusivity (Sunriver Resort Golf^{[18?] (unconfirmed source)}, Widgi Creek Golf Club^{[19?] (unconfirmed source)}). Golf is supported by the area’s dry climate and long shoulder seasons, though green fees and tee-time access vary by time of year and demand, especially in summer (Sunriver Resort Golf^{[18?] (unconfirmed source)}). For non-golf recreation, Bend also has strong access to hiking, mountain biking, Deschutes River activities, and winter skiing in the Cascades, which is a major lifestyle plus for active retirees (Travel Oregon Bend^{[20?] (unconfirmed source)}).

Census QuickFacts puts Bend’s 2024 population at 106,926 and the city’s median age at 40.9 years, which indicates a mixed-age community rather than a classic retiree enclave (Census QuickFacts^[1]). The city is a good fit for retirees who want dining, breweries, trails, and a walkable downtown experience, but it is less oriented toward age-restricted living than many Sun Belt retirement markets (Travel Oregon Bend^{[20?] (unconfirmed source)}). Bend’s overall character is active, outdoorsy, and polished rather than sleepy, which tends to suit engaged full-time residents (Travel Oregon Bend^{[20?] (unconfirmed source)}).

FEMA’s National Risk Index is published at the county level, and Deschutes County is the correct geography for Bend’s hazard reading (FEMA National Risk Index^[21]). The county-level hazard story is heavily shaped by wildfire and flood exposure, and Deschutes County emergency planning materials also list wildfire, flood, earthquakes, and volcanic hazards among the county’s main risks (Deschutes County Potential Hazards^[22]). On the air-quality side, Bend’s wildfire-smoke season can degrade summer and early-fall outdoor comfort, so retirees should plan for occasional smoky periods even in an otherwise sunny climate (EPA AirNow^{[23?] (unconfirmed source)}).