In this blog we discuss the question of if living in Bend Oregon is expensive – from an insider’s perspective.
Before we get started, we are financial advisors in Bend with clients located across the country. We’ve written the following blogs about financial matters in Oregon, please check them out if you’d like.
Why are people moving from California to Bend Oregon?
Protect yourself from financial scams in Bend, Oregon!
A guide to retiring in Bend, Oregon
And now onto the blog!
Housing in Bend Oregon is expensive
Housing prices are one of the biggest drivers of cost of living. According to the Census Bureau, the median value of owner-occupied housing stood in Bend at $384,400 from 2015 to 2019. This is 76% higher than $217,500, the median value for the entire United States.
Since 2019, Bend real estate has skyrocketed in price, with the median sale price of a home rising to $683,000 in November 2021. Low inventories for single family homes and supply shortages are likely to continue to impact the supply of housing, and prices are expected to continue to rise in 2022 and beyond.
Either way you slice it, owning a home in Bend costs more than most other places in the United States.
Let’s face it: cost of living in Bend Oregon is a little high
Housing is just one piece of the puzzle. According to Salary.com, the cost of living in Bend, Oregon, is 5.5% higher than the average for the rest of the country. Energy costs are higher by 26.1%, and transportation by 5.3%.
Bend costs less than living in a major city like Portland, San Francisco, New York, or Washington, DC; but for a small city, it’s pricey. In fact, according to SourceWeekly, Bend’s cost of living rose 22.5% from 2010 to 2020.
As fee-only financial advisors in Bend and Eugene Oregon, serving clients across the country, we do see it as more expensive to live in Bend than in other places. However the perks (we’ll get to those in a bit) make it worth it, in our view.
Given the high cost of living in Bend, it is useful to put together a financial plan that takes all your costs into account, as well as your short and long term goals, and puts a strategy in place to make them all jive. If so, let’s meet and discuss.
Is Bend wealthier than other Oregon cities?
Despite its cost of living being high in comparison, people in Bend aren’t really earning more than the rest of the state or country. According to the 2019 Census, median income in Oregon was $67,058 and in Bend it was $65,662. This is roughly approximate to the median of $65,712 for the rest of the country.
According to ZipDataMaps the five wealthiest zip codes (by adjusted gross income) in Oregon are the following:
- 97034, Lake Oswego, $224,340
- 97024, Portland, $184,030
- 97221, Portland, $184,020
- 97210, Portland, $156,730
- 97229, Portland, 148,060
We don’t see 97701, 97702, or 97703 (Bend zipcodes) on the list!
We think it’s worth it!
Despite Bend Oregon being expensive, people love it here. There has been an exodus of people moving from California to Oregon in recent years. We think the laid back vibe, food and arts scene, and family-friendly environment have a lot to do with it. And that’s not to mention its sunny weather and beautiful nature and parks.
Some of the more popular Bend attractions and events include the gorgeous Deschutes River Trail, Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort, Bend Oktoberfest, and the Workhouse.
There may be certain financial benefits to living in Bend. There is no state sales tax in Oregon, and that is just another benefit of living in Bend. It is a separate property state, which is relevant in the case of a divorce involving redistribution of property.
Talking to a Bend Oregon financial advisor
We hope our blog about how expensive it is to live in Bend Oregon has been useful. If you are still worried about the cost of living here, financial planning can help you afford living in Bend while saving for retirement and other life events. You may want to work with a Bend Oregon financial advisor.
We are a fee-only, fiduciary wealth management firm based in Bend and Eugene Oregon, serving clients across the country. If you’re interested in engaging with us further, please reach out and set up a time to meet. If now isn’t the time to make this move, we hope you’ll at least join our newsletter.
If there is a topic you’d like us to consider for future newsletters, please let us know through our feedback form.
Sources
Bend Premier Real Estate. (2022, January 11th). Bend Oregon Real Estate | 2021 Trends and 2022 Predictions. https://www.bendpremierrealestate.com/blog/bend-oregon-real-estate-2021-market-trends-and-2022-predictions.html
Salary.com. Cost of living in Bend, Oregon. Retrieved on February 8th, 2022 from https://www.salary.com/research/cost-of-living/bend-or
SourceWeekly. (2022, January 12). Bend’s Cost Of Living: 4th-Fastest Increase In The Nation. Retrieved from https://www.bendsource.com/bend/bends-cost-of-living-4th-fastest-increase-in-the-nation/Content?oid=16078224
The United States Census Bureau. QuickFacts. Bend, Oregon. Retrieved on February 8th, 2022 from https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/bendcityoregon
The United States Census Bureau. (2021, October 8th). 2019 Median Household Income in the United States. Retrieved on February 8th, 2022 from https://www.census.gov/library/visualizations/interactive/2019-median-household-income.html
The Local Arrow. (2020, July) 11 Reasons Why You Should Consider Moving to Bend, Oregon. http://www.hasson.com/blog/2018/03/reasons-consider-moving-bend-oregon/#:~:text=Bend%20has%20a%20myriad%20of,immediate%20and%20long%2Dterm%20ways
Tripadvisor. Things to do in Bend. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g51766-Activities-Bend_Central_Oregon_Oregon.html
ZipDataMaps. Map of 25 Wealthiest Zipcodes in Oregon Based on Average Adjusted Gross Income. Retrieved on February 8th, 2022 from https://www.zipdatamaps.com/economics/income/agi/state/wealthiest-zipcodes-in-oregon
Disclaimers The information on this page does not describe every aspect of our investment advisory services nor does it contain all of our performance records, and it is intended for residents of the United States. Information provided is obtained from sources we believe to be reliable but is not guaranteed. Past results are not indicative of future performance. Nothing on this page should be construed as investment, tax, or financial advice. MCS Family Wealth Advisors® is owned by MCS Financial Advisors, LLC (MCS), an investment adviser registered with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. We only conduct business where properly registered or exempt from registration