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| What Bend is like for active adults |
Active adults over 50 looking for a new community where the outdoors is important should consider Bend, Oregon. Located on the Deschutes River on the eastern edge of the Cascades, the area offers great scenic beauty, skiing, mountains, golf, fishing, and more. Word about how nice this city is has gotten out: the population was just over 66,000 in 2005, an increase of over 25% in just 5 years. Bend makes just about every list of “best retirement communities”. Bend is located in Deschutes County in the center of the state.
Bend’s economy is strong thanks to tourism and its popularity as a community for active adults. Opportunities for part-time work are ample.
Housing choices are many and diverse. You can live in town or in a newer development. Sun River is one of the largest of these with almost 4,000 housing units. It is about 15 miles away. Prices range widely depending on the development. The average sales price of a home in Bend was about $300,000 in the 1st quarter of 2008, down considerably from 2006-7.
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| What is special about this community |
| • Bend has wonderful scenic and recreational activities
• Mirror Pond in downtown Bend
• 71 parks and 48 miles of trails
• Mount Bachelor ski resort
• Bend Film Festival
• Minor league baseball, basketball, and soccer
• Pilot Butte State Park
• Smith Rock State Park |
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| What is not special about this community |
| • Far from a big city or international airport
• Traffic is building
• Prices have escalated, this area is not inexpensive |
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| What kinds of people like living here |
Retirees will like living in Bend OR because it has beautiful natural surroundings and a vital and prosperous downtown. There is a strong economic base with ample opportunities for work. People who especially enjoy outdoor living will love it here.
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| Physical environment |
| Bend is located on the eastern edge of the Cascade Range with its many lakes as it transitions into the drier Great Basin high desert plateau. The terrain is characterized by junipers, sagebrush, bitter-brush, and little water. Pilot Butte State Park is an extinct cinder cone inside the city limits. Annual precipitation averages 10-13 inches; annual snowfall is 34 inches. |
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| Cultural environment |
| Performing arts institutions and venues in Bend include the Cascade Festival of Music, Cascades Theatrical Company, Central Oregon Symphony Orchestra, Les Schwab Amphitheater , 2nd Street Theater, the Tower Theatre, and the Obsidian Opera Company. There are 3 museums in the area, including the Deschutes County Historical Museum and the High Desert Museum. There is an Art in Public Places program in addition to a number of private galleries. Central Oregon Community College is here with 1,600 students. |
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| Medical facilities |
| St. Charles Medical Center is the main medical facility in Bend OR |
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| Transportation |
Transportation in the Bend area includes Roberts Field in Redmond, Oregon, 18 miles north. Portland’s International Airport is about a 3 and a half hour drive. A municipal bus system started in late 2006.
For more about retirement in Oregon |
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Active Adult Communities in Bend |
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| Bend Active Communities |
| Facts about BEND | | State | : OR | | Environment | : College Town,Mountains, | | City Population | : 50,001-100,000 | | Median age of Population | : 25-44 | | Avg Jan Temperature | : 21-40 | | Median HH Income | : 41,001-60,000 | | Average Home Price (MLS) | : $300,001-$500,000 | | Annual Property Tax on a $200,000 house | : 2000-4000 | | Total Crime Index | : 101-110 (slightly above average) | | Cost of Living Index | : 111-120 (high) | | Culture Index | : 101-110 (slightly above average) | | State Sales Tax | : No | | State Income Tax | : Yes | | Name of the Guide | : |
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Vote on the Ratings for Bend |
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Update Your Ratings |
Overall Retirement Ratings
1. Rating: 4.0/5 ( 1 vote cast)
Expense:
Inexpensive to Luxury
2. Rating: 4.0/5 ( 1 vote cast)
Taxes:
Inexpensive to Expensive
3. Rating: 3.0/5 ( 1 vote cast)
Culture:
None to Cosmopolitan
4. Rating: 4.0/5 ( 1 vote cast)
Recreation:
None to Summer camp
5. Rating: 5.0/5 ( 1 vote cast)
Transportation:
Boondocks to World Hub
6. Rating: 1.0/5 ( 1 vote cast)
Security:
Dangerous to Ft. Knox
7. Rating: 3.0/5 ( 1 vote cast)
Medical Facilities:
None to Excellent
8. Rating: 2.5/5 ( 2 votes cast)
Political Situation:
Conservative to Liberal
9. Rating: 3.5/5 ( 2 votes cast)
Environmental:
Oblivious to Ultra-Green
10. Rating: 4.0/5 ( 1 vote cast)
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