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
Not what it used to be.... - 7/4/2007
I have lived in Bend most of my life. My parents were hard working middle class citizens. Bend used to have that small town feel but not anymore. The traffic is horrible. If you wish to purchase a home, you had better have a half a million dollars hidden away somewhere to afford one. Simply put...Bend is a resort city. Everyday we have individuals move here that were considered middle class in California or Washington and now feel as if they are part of the elite. When I was younger you could always see a smile on your store clerks face or from a stranger walking down the street. Not anymore. Bend, unfortunately has become a "it's all about me" city. On the positive side, Bend school districts are all about the students. More funds go into the schools in Bend, Redmond and Prineville than anything else. Too bad I could not say the same about law enforcement. The meth problems here will soon be a major problem for our central Oregon city. In summary, Bend is a nice place to
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cost of living in Bend - 5/9/2007
I belive that twenty years ago Bend was a great place to live and still is if you can afford it. Lots of people have moved to Bend from all over the counrty which has been great for Bend's econmy but there is a negative side to this and that is single parents with a smaller income cannot make it here nor if they have not bought a house will they be able to afford one. Which is very sad espically for the people who have lived here most of their lives and want there children to grow up hear too. The traffic is terrible and the roundabouts with there crazy art does not help for people to get around town any quicker.The crime in Bend along with the population has grown to and so you better lock your doors at
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Bend- Quality of life at it's finest! - 1/10/2007
I moved here from Washington where it rains all the time, crime is abundent, traffic is horrible and people are rude. Bend is an amazing place to live. The community is friendly, weather is great, recreation is plenty, there are tons of children and parks for them to play. The river runs trhough Bend and is packed in th e summer with river rafters. The only real complaint I hear about Bend is housing prices, but many people have made a ton of money in the housing market. The thing is Bend is like an expensive sweater, you gotta step it up a bit to be comfortable. If you are looking for a safe place to raise your children with lots of outdoor activites Bend, Oregon is
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Growing fast, still - 12/12/2006
Bend has been growing since I moved here almost 16 years ago, often topping national lists. Will be interesting to see what the next few years bring.
Barney
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Bend is sunny? PDX, SEA, EUG may say so... - 9/28/2006
People love to say that in Oregon once you cross the mountains, the climate is completely different. Bend is held out as the drier alternative to the soaked towns of Eugene, Salem, and Portland. True it is drier than those towns. But people claiming 300 days of sunny weather have gone off their rocker. Try using the climate resource on this website -- it says Bend has 162 days of sunny weather annually. Compare this to genuinely sunny places like Denver (245 days) and Santa Fe (283 days) or even Ashland, OR (198 days). True Bend does not get much precipitation, but who cares if it's cloudy all of the time? The Cascades do take much of the moisture out of the fronts coming from the Pacific. The clouds remain. Bend is also tremendously overpriced. Its ratio of median salary to median housing price is among the worst in the nation and does not portend well in terms of affordability and housing appreciation.
There are good things about Bend, and many of the other
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Life in Bend OR - 8/31/2006
Life here is very different. It is seperated between the newbies and the ones who grew up here! Most of the newbies seem to be rich "wana-be's". They are familys that wanted to be the best and richest where they came from...but couldnt, so they came here to flash their money around. Some families however, are here just trying to make a living and enjoy life. Because of the increse in population, the traffic is terrible...the mix of driving styles is scary...and there are fewer road rules and no one to inforce
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Affordable Housing ???? - 8/28/2006
The Central Oregon Association of Realtors has recently reported that the median price of housing is $ 349,900. The city also officially reports the population to be 70,238. The point is that such rapid growth is causing the price of buying, or renting, a home to be outside the means of a large segment of the people wishing to live
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Outdoor Life - 7/30/2006
I left Key West, FL to come to Bend, OR. Goodbye to sand, hurricanes, and humidity. Hello to seasons, mountains, snow, and more outdoor activities than can be imagined. I've never been to a state with more diverse landscapes or opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors. Bend is a great place to raise a family. Compared to The Conch Republic and CA, the cost of living is reasonable for all the things to do with your loved
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Maureen - 7/26/2006
Bend is a "high-desert" community at 3500 ft above sea level. Dry climate, with approx. 15" precipitation/yr. Cold in winter with snow as the precipitation. Short growing season in summer. Maybe 90 days maximum on a good summer. Expect freezing temperatures anytime in Spring of Fall. Summer temps can have a temperature range of 50 degrees or more between night and day.
Clear days almost 300
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Good luck - 5/4/2006
All those new to Bend I wish you the best. As an actual local I finally give up, too rich for my blood and it's ugly
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