Retire in Bend, Oregon
89Bend Oregon is a Great Place to Retire!
My own hometown, Bend, Oregon was just rated as one of the top places to retire in the United States! It is going to be highlighted in the most recent edition of America's Best Low-Tax Retirement Towns. One of the key reasons for the selection is its low overall tax rate. Among other things, there is no sales tax in Oregon (which makes shopping so much more fun!) Property taxes are fairly reasonable. Although there is a state income tax, payment of the tax is deductible on your federal tax return. The rate is not exorbitant, either. Of course, during retirement, you are not usually earning money. So income tax may be less relevant.
In determining the "best low-tax retirement towns," researchers collected information on tax rates in states across the nation and in Washington, D.C. Then, they calculated potential tax liability for a range of income-level couples.
Bend, Oregon's rank was 7 out of 173 towns in the income/home value scenario of $30,000/$125,000. Housing and living costs, recreational opportunities, overall climate and other factors were also included in award of certain cities as top retirement spots.
* All photographs in this hub are the property of the author, Stephanie Hicks. Please contact me for permission to reprint or reuse.
Why is Bend Oregon a Great Place to Live?
Although I'm nowhere near retirement yet, I can definitely attest to the fact that relocating from Seattle, Washington, to Bend, Oregon has saved our family a lot of money. Bend is still a relatively small city, only 75,000 people. However, including the greater area, with Redmond, Sisters and Prineville, Central Oregon now boasts well over 150,000 residents. An international airport serves the region, in Redmond, approximately 20 minutes north of the city. Daily flights to Portland, Oregon, Seattle, Los Angeles and Las Vegas are available.
Among the many budget-friendly aspects of living here, are the following:
1. Short commute. We live only 4 miles from downtown (as opposed to 25 miles out of Seattle, previously). With a 10-minute drive to work, trips to the gas pump are far less frequent than they were before. Given the price of gas these days, we have saved over $50/month, on each vehicle! Its amazingly easy to get around here.
2. Lower child-care costs. This was really unbelieveable! The cost of twins in daycare was - and is - exorbitant. However, we are saving over $300 per child here in Central Oregon, compared to the cost in the Seattle area. Over the course of a year, we ended up funneling the extra money from these savings into college accounts.
3. Fun, outdoor recreation. We save a ton of money by playing and exploring outside. Instead of trips to the movies or the mall, the weather in Bend is usually sunny, allowing us more frequent opportunities to hike or swim in one of the many beautiful areas surrounding our home.
What to Do in Bend, Oregon
The area is a tourist destination much of the year. Great skiing and snowboarding is available at Mt. Bachelor, 20 minutes west of the city. During the summer, sunny warm days draw crowds to the area to enjoy fishing, swimming, boating, and hiking. The Deschutes River flows right through downtown. Many parks line the river, allowing for casual enjoyment of its natural beauty.
Festivals and farmers markets are a regular staple of the summer season. Very inexpensive and family-friendly, some of these events are even free! Don't forget the BendFilm Festival in the fall - an independent film enthusiast's dream! And, you can attend an outdoor concert at the Les Schwab Amphitheatre, right in the heart of the Old Mill Shopping District. Again, the cost of these events is much more affordable than "big city" prices.
Easy living in Bend, Oregon is fun and affordable. Its no wonder that retirees looking to save some money during their golden years will choose to spend them in Central Oregon.
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I'm in CT too, and hate the weather, traffic, high prices... :(
Oregon looks pretty perfect - those pictures are beautiful!
Thumbs up! The photos alone stole my heart before I even read about low taxes. Makes you definitely want an outdoor lifestyle. My only drawback is cold - Spent too many years in New York, Washington, and Atlanta. But it's still most tempting! Great work.
Sold! I'll see you in about 20 years!
I've lived in Bend for 3 years; came from Richmond VA. It is as beautiful as those photos show. Yes, we have snow, but the greatest is when we watch it snow up on the mountain- which makes the winter sports enthusiasts & the economy happy- but it's not snowing here in town. Also that we have sun almost everyday.
But I have to tell ya, I don't want you all moving here. In 3 years Bend has grown by nearly 15,000. I love the small town atmosphere, but it's beginning to fade as everyone wants the perks like in the bigger cities they came from.
Nice presentation, Steph of a lovely small city.
Never been to the US pacific coast but you make it sound great. The snow looks great on those mountains but we rarely get freezing temperatures in Ireland, and i don't think that I could appreciate the cold temperatures.
Looks really pretty. Maybe one day for a holiday.
It is definately the slow pace I'll be looking for. Thank you for the tips, Portland is nice but I think I'll be making that transition sooner than I thought.
What a beautiful place to live! We are thinking about selling our house and moving to a less stressful place (We live in the SF Bay Area) The stress here is horrible- and even though I grew up here, I'm ready to get away from the hustle and bustle!
Great hub!
Oh it sounds wonderful...and not just for retirees. As someone who lives in New Jersey with the highest prooperty taxes in the nation, I'm green with envy over that low tax thing LOL Another great one, Steph
Great blog! I've been selling real estate in Bend since 1981 and have sold many homes to retirees.
My law partner was just out there taking the bar exam because she and her family plan to move to Bend soon. Thanks for the pictures. They never bring any pics back so I had not seen how beautifult it is. I definitely 'get it' now.
Bend is a great place to live! I have lived here since 1981 and raised my kids here.
oregon is definitely a great place to retire. nice article. very nice indeed.
Great Hub :0)
My wife and I have finaly decided to move to Bend....I have Lived in salem for 9 years and recently Tualatin where my wifes family live`s ...But we both need some healthy space and I have alwalys wanted to move to Bend. I have My own carpet and Uph cleaning Business and will start all over again out there. I have traveled most of Central OR on my motorcycle and used Bend as my Starting point. I love the peace and quiet out there. Growing up in Ireland I alwalys dreamed of riding through cowboy land ;0) and when I first saw the high desert I thought I was in heaven...Well I soon will be LOL and I love to cross country ski...Did it in Mi for 3 years so the cold does not bother me...
Mike ;0)
Hi Steph ;0)
Wow 70`s that is unseasonably mild. I remember some years back in Ireland my mother calling me to say that it was in the high 80`s in early January and the daffodils were already blooming there - only time thats ever happened. Thank you! I will send you an E-mail.
What I look forward to the most is being able to ride out into the desert on a whim or going to the lava caves to think LOL or taking our RV up to Paullnia Peak on a friday night and having a camp fire and of course getting away from the allergies of the valley, I alwalys feel like a new person in the higher elavations. have a great week! Mike :0)
You say that daily flights are available to Portland, but aren't they expensive? Or at least the the cheap, short-hopper trips we're used to out West on Southwest, Alaska, et. al.
It's only a 3 hour drive to Portland, so it's an easy 3-day weekend if you ever need the bright lights of the big city.
Thanks for the hub!
Oregon is such a beautiful state! I am new to hubpages.......new to writing blogs, in fact, and TWO of my hubs have been about Oregon. Intend to write more. The two weeks of vacationing in Oregon sold me on the idea of living there! Maybe someday............?
Too bad I'm a Canadian. It sounds perfect. I've been hearing about Bend for 45 years, since my college buddies used to travel there for ski races. Then, when I started working in the outdoor world in the Canadian Rockies (see my Hub The Weeping Wall), I started meeting climbers, skiers, and mountain bikers who raved about the place.
We've got nice places up here, too. But the trouble is all the rich folks from across our country and yours flock to them, bid the housing prices up to astronomical heights, and then modest incomced simple living folk like me can't afford to live there.
For example, Canmore, AB. When I first started living and working there, I could have bought a house for $10,000. Old mining town, with a shut-down mine. Later, I did buy a house, with another couple a couple of investors for $80K. Got a bit screwed on the handshake deal when I sold my half but that house is now worth at least a half a million dollars. A basic 3 bedroom condo in that town is worth nearly a million!
What's a poor old fella to do. Ah, retire to Bend! Hmm… you got me thinking!
Great information - sounds like lots of great outdoor activities!
What can you grow in a garden in Bend or do you need a hothouse? What do they sell at the farmer's markets? Are there any farms near Bend or all west of the Cascades?
Hi!
I can't sleep and found your article while setting up my own hub. Thank you for the wonderful photos.
I finally convinced my husband NOT to go to Telluride, CO, as we have done for eight years straight. We'll be checking out Bend this summer! We are looking for a place to live after I finish nursing school.
Please visit my profil page to see if you would like to have breakfast with us while we are there :>)
Do you know anyone in your network who might want to swap houses (we live in Sedona, AZ) during July/early August?
Greetings from the red rocks,
Maria
hi steph, great hub, when do i move in, can't afford a place of my own, can do odd jobs to pay my way, handy in the kitchen too. just kidding, but i do love that area and the coastal area also with all the big rocks in the surf.
Hi.. i am from india and i have visited oregon 2 times now... i really love it..!!
Hi Steph! My wife and I are happy on the South Carolina coast, so we're not looking to move anytime soon. However, we would like to visit Oregon sometime, as it's one of 8 states I have yet to see. We considered Seattle at one point, but the dreariness of constant rainy weather (plus the traffic and expense) was a dealkiller for us. Does Oregon get more sunshine on average than Washington state? (*I know that the "Places Rated Almanac" always ranks Oregon metro areas' climates among the highest...health and nutrition is important to us, and a mild "paradise" climate is great for that!)
Thank you for the summary, Steph. We have family in Seattle, so maybe next time we visit there, we'll swing down and check out the pristine Beaver State!
Hi, I am actually just emailing to ask what I could tell my mom to do in Bend and to meet people there. She is 57 years old and she has lived there for 4 years and is very lonely. She has not met many people and wants to get out and do things but doesn't want to do it alone. Any suggestions? my email address is onetrendychic@hotmail.com.
In the 60's I lived in Chiloquin Org. I have been to Bend many times things have changed up and down. I have always loved Bend. In the 80's I all most bought a house there and moved my children and I from Spokane. My husband died and I thought it would be a better place to raise my children. My children are by-racal and I was told maybe it would be hard on them there. So we stayed in Wa. My chilldren are grown now and I am remarried. In the 90's we went back to look at Bend again we were living in Wisconsin. My husband couldn't find a job there so now we are 2009 and we want to retire in Bend. I am here to tell anyone who can find a way to subport your self it is the best place ever to live. We are in our 60's now and hope to be relocated in the spring or early summer and I am looking forward to getting out of the 50 below temps and into the beatiful high country and dry weather your cold is nothing and I love four seasons. The hard part is moving 2000 miles away from my children and Grandchilden but now they will have a nice place to visit. I enjoyed reading your ads. Grace E.
We are moving out west in March or April I had to have my knee replaced and had some complications and just starting to get around. The doctor told me he did not want me to traval just yet because of clotting. We are getting excited about our move yet I am concered about the drugs, crime, break-ins, Rudeness of the people that was written about above my last comment. Yet even where we live in Plover Wisconsin. We have people moving in from Chicago, Milwaukee, St Paul and so on. The crime is getting so bad Drug srores being broken into, people being killed. And we live in Amish Land Know one can be as rude as the mid west or East Coast Anyhow it is everywhere. We just want to live where we have three seasons and still have our health. Maybe we will see you in three mos.
Bend is a great place to retire! Several of my home sales last year were to retired folks from out of state as well as in state. Bend is a great place to live!!
Lots of great content and even though our market has taken a bit of a tumble, we're still one of the most fantastic places to live in the United States. Thanks for being such a fan of our area and providing meaningful information.
Great information on Bend here. I love Oregon. If I could retire I would and I would have to visit this lovely place.
Awesome that place looks so breath-taking! Some of my clients are looking for retirement properties I'll show them your hub.
I just the love central OR. I want to retire in the area, living in Ohio I am so tired of the humidity.
I can hardly wait to retire.....I hear there are wolves in OR. whoo-hoo
Thanks for the information. Oregon looks wonderful, but cold. I'd like to retire there for the summer only, I think. We had wolves in Limousin, France until very recently and there is a reserve for them here. The howling is so spooky I'm not sure that I'm that keen on reintroduction.
Bend Oregon Homes, Inc. specializes in real estate and
fine homes in Bend, Oregon. Go to
www.BendOregonHomes.com for more information on
Bend Oregon Homes & Real Estate.
Hi Steph, As I checked out your profile page, I realized that we were in Bend during our extended RV trip through Washington and Oregon. Made it to the top of Paulina Peak and camped near Newberry National Monument on our way to Crater Lake. We loved central Oregon, and this gives such a nice overview of Bend. Your photos are terrific! I'm going on to read more of your articles on Bend– for our next trip.
We negotiated Bend, OR., when we were ready to make a final move. It is the snow that makes me feal uncomfortable. When I have to get out in the winter and shovel the ground around my car, then I do not see that as a great retirement place. We decided to move towards the coast. Yes, it has rain, but now snow shoveling. Bend is a wonderful place to visit in the summer though. Great weather in the summer and nice hotels. My daughter and I love to visit the small town of sisters too.
Thank you for taking the time to write this article... as a resident, it accurately depicts Bend, OR. (yes it gets cooler in winter, but still mild for NW winter temps).
Check out Bend on CityProfile.com
Hellooooooo from the Fl Keys !
Yup, thinking about moving to Bend... Time for
A change. "Julie" from the Chamber was Terrific !
Hope to visit this Summer if fuel doesn't raise
through the roof. Thanks for the info.
Looks like Heaven! Great hub.
After so many times trying to get to Bend Org. to live I just gave up. It makes me so sad. Yet the cost to move is more then we can afford on retirerment pay. It seem when we get close to making the move something new happens. Most of the time it is our children needing us for something. Its looking like they don't want us that far away. We did fly out to Bend about 4 mos. ago. We had a great time. Even if we cannot move out west its a great place to visit. People are so friendly, and it is so beautiful. I feel so happy when I am there. I thought retirement was for us but our kids seem to think its for them so we can spend more time and money on them. Sad In Wisconsin
I have driven through Bend Oregon a few times. I used to live in West Seattle back in the late 70's before moving back to Canada in 1982. Oregon is beautiful and I can see why you would like it so much there. Enjoyed reading your article.
For prospective Buyers and Sellers, and Brokers of Real Estate in Bend, Oregon, I recommend you visit http://1hotproperty.com/bendoregonrealestate
1 Hot Property - Bend Oregon Real Estate: We feature the Hottest Properties and Brokers from the Top Real Estate firms in Central Oregon. We are a real estate web portal, featuring Property Search, Broker and real estate vendors search by specialty category, a current real estate news blog and more. We connect buyers and sellers to top brokers, and top properties in Central Oregon.
Bryan Smith is the owner, and Principal Broker, lives in Bend, and will personally answer any questions and comments.
Bend truly is a great place to live. Market inventory is dropping, investors are purchasing rental properties that cash flow, new homes are being built in a number of areas in town including Northwest Crossing, and in the Shevlin Park Road area.
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bogey047 4 years ago
Sounds good, I am getting Tax to death in Connecticut. I am looking to move elsewhere because I am retired and need to get some tax breaks. I just hope the Democrats don't win the October election because if you think its bad now wait until they add more taxes.