What BestPlaces Users Say about Bend
Bend, Oregon is a small city located in the central part of the state. It is known for its outdoor recreation opportunities, craft breweries, and vibrant downtown area. With a population of just over 100,000, Bend has been steadily growing in recent years, attracting newcomers from all over the country. To gain a better understanding of what it's like to live in Bend, let's take a look at some user reviews from BestPlaces.net.
According to John, who has lived in Bend for 3 years, "The outdoor activities in Bend are top-notch. From skiing to hiking to river activities, there is always something to do here." He also mentions that "the local community is very friendly and welcoming, making it easy to make new friends."
In contrast, Stephanie has a different perspective. She moved to Bend from a big city and says, "The pace of life is much slower here and it took some getting used to. But now, I appreciate the laid-back vibe and being so close to nature." She also adds, "The cost of living is a bit higher than I expected, but the quality of life makes it worth it."
Another user, Sarah, has been living in Bend for 10 years and has seen the city change. She says, "The growth in Bend has brought some challenges, such as traffic and crowded trails. But overall, I still love living here." She also mentions, "The food scene has improved significantly and there are always new restaurants and breweries popping up."
Lastly, Brian has a mixed review of Bend. He says, "I love the natural beauty of Bend and the outdoor activities, but the job market is limited and the cost of living can be a struggle." He also adds, "The city is definitely becoming more touristy, which can be a downside for residents."
Overall, the majority of user reviews about living in Bend are positive, citing the abundance of outdoor activities, friendly community, and beautiful scenery. However, there are also mentions of challenges such as cost of living, job market, and growth impacting the city's small-town feel. It seems that Bend may not be for everyone, but for those who appreciate a laid-back lifestyle and love for the outdoors, it could be the perfect place to call home.
based on 100 ReviewsGet to know Bend with the latest comments and reviews from people who live in or have visited Bend
Bend = Beer Culture - 12/1/2020
I’ve lived in Bend over 15 years and it’s still a relatively small Oregon mountain town. Basically, it’s a jock town where beer is revered and the temperatures are as cold as a craft beer 5 months out of the year. Bend does have four seasons, but five months are taken over by winter, two months are sweltering hot, and fall, spring, and summer are comfortable though all the nice places are overrun by tourists then. And let’s not forget the month of Fire where the air quality is so unhealthy that you can’t go outdoors. You will live longer being in Bend though as the best way to socialize is through exercise; however, the quality of the healthcare is iffy because there is no internship program at the local hospital and, therefore, all the education for doctors is on the west side of the Cascades and the docs stay there after they finish their education. So, there is a physician shortage in Bend. It is still a bit of a cultural wasteland despite a few cultural venues and a handful
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Why the high tax it's hard enough. - 11/25/2020
I have to say the winter is so cold it reminds me of the north east. The longer I've lived here the more I want to leave and soon. The main employer is the hospital which isn't a well run hospital so it's a constant struggle. All the other employment is just working class jobs with ridiculous housing coast. When you live here you can barley afford to enjoy the outdoors because you spent all your money for a roof and a heating bill eight out of twelve month and Oregon has a 13% income state tax which is as high as California. The no sales tax doesn't come close to off setting the state income tax. The people aren't that friendly anymore either. The over population has really changed Bend a lot.
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Bend has sunshine and outdoor activities. - 10/13/2020
Bend is great if you like the outdoors year round. I moved here because it was similar to the mountain life I enjoyed in Colorado for over 20 years and really wanted to experience the Northwest. Bend is more affordable with many similar lifestyles. With that said I think Bend is too expensive for what it offers, grocery stores are more expensive in general than world class resort towns I lived in Colorado. Not sure what that is all about. People are great, coworkers, neighbors, and ones I meet on the trail.
Many locals or people who moved here for what it offers are not happy with so many people now moving here. Man oh man I just can't handle that argument, same story where I always live. I tend to live in nice places and people discover it and want to move there. That freakin' simple people. I know it drives up costs, increases traffic, etc. But it is what it is.
I might be moving due to not enough work here for me in hospitality industry. Seems to be lots of active
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Its Close To Perfect - 8/21/2020
We love Bend, its ideal for us, weather, activity, people, food, lifestyle, frankly its perfect. everyone would be lucky to come and live here, but dont because we dont want everyone, just the people who truly appriciate it like
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Tired of the "non-natives suck" meme - 1/10/2020
In response to the natives with their unabashed isolationism (see the several hundred variations on the "Californians ruined Bend!" meme), I can't relate to the idea that having been birthed into a place gives you some kind of ownership of that place. You had no control over where your mother spit you out. Transplants to Bend came here with thought and purpose. We came here for a reason. At least we have that. You don't. Can't we just get along? Bend is a great place with so much to do in every season! I have lived here for 6 months and, as someone who spends basically all his free time doing outdoor stuff, I love it. Everything is relative so yes, if you grew up here and were used to the traffic when the city was half its size, then yes it is going to seem bad now. If you are coming from elsewhere with actual traffic, you won't understand what all these natives are talking about. Gas is cheap in Oregon and there is no sales tax. An ocean roll is less than 5 bucks and we
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Outdoor Enthusiasts Only: - 1/25/2019
Like outdoor sports? There isn't anything you can't do here: running, ultra running, hiking, biking, swimming, kayaking, paddle boarding, skiing (both water and snow), snowboarding, rock climbing... the list goes on and on. Exceptional place, affordable housing.
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Bend.. What happened to you?! - 10/17/2018
I was born in Bend Oregon at St. Charles. I loved growing up in bend and living here the first 28 years of my life. I moved 8 years ago and at that time Bend was changing so much. Now whenever I "go home" to visit, I'm shocked just how much it's changed. Specifically the people. Living in Bend my whole life people were usually always very nice. Now you run into a$$holes everywhere. I live in Southern California now and shockingly the people here are nicer than the people in Bend.
The cost of living is also insane in Bend now. There is very little opportunity, so if you don't work remotely for some company elsewhere, you'll struggle to survive. Being born and raised in Bend, it's so heartbreaking to see how much it's changing. I know when you have a place as beautiful as Bend, this is bound to happen but it doesn't make it sting any less.
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Bend is the most over-rated town in Oregon ... - 7/28/2018
I was born in Bend, my parents grew up in Bend and I loved Bend almost my entire life. In fact, I moved back to Bend to retire in the mid 2000's. It has become a town of strip malls, cheesy resort stuff and the home of the homeless. Yeah, there are quite a few (often quite smug) rich folks, but the town is littered with heavy drinkers, pot smokers and other lowlife who move here to ski, mountain bike, etc. and earn their minimum wage dollars waiting tables and pumping gas for the rich folks.
As of the "82 average high temp" ... ? That figure is the average from 30 years of NOAA data from 1980 to 2010.
How about meaningful info for you ....
July 2017 daily highs averaged 91.3 with 23 days of 90+ heat.
July 2018 daily highs averaged 95.2 with 21 days of 90+ heat.
(fyi, the 2018 data is from actual recordings thru' 7/26 and from Weather Underground forecasts for the last 5 days of the month.)
Don't
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