Region Profilesecondary
Value + growth
The pragmatic alternative to Bend. More affordable, family-oriented, and growing fast. A revitalized downtown is finally giving Redmond an identity of its own.
Friendly Friday markets in summer, growing restaurant row on 6th Street, and quick access to outdoor playgrounds in every direction. Redmond is where you go when you want Bend's lifestyle without Bend's price tag.
Yes — particularly if you want Central Oregon's lifestyle at a meaningfully lower price than Bend. Median home prices in Redmond sit around $485K vs. Bend's $720K, you're 20 minutes from downtown Bend, and Roberts Field (RDM) airport is on your doorstep. Trade-offs: smaller dining and culture scene, more tract-style construction, and noticeably windier than Bend.
Roughly 30–40% less for comparable homes. Redmond's median is $485K vs. Bend's $720K. Larger lots, newer construction, and a similar climate. For many buyers the trade — slightly longer commute to Bend, smaller downtown scene — is well worth the savings. See the full Bend vs. Redmond comparison.
About 20 minutes along Highway 97 on a normal day. Morning and evening rush adds 5–10 minutes. Many Redmond residents work in Bend and find the commute genuinely manageable — easier than most suburban commutes in a major metro.
Young families priced out of Bend, first-time buyers and trade-up buyers seeking land, commuters who work in Bend or at Roberts Field, and investors hunting for appreciation upside. Redmond has been one of Central Oregon's faster-growing cities and its downtown is genuinely improving year over year.
Smith Rock State Park (15 minutes east) for world-class climbing and hiking, Roberts Field airport for travel, a downtown that's adding restaurants and breweries year-over-year, and quick access to the Crooked River, Cline Falls, and high-desert recreation. Less curated than Bend's scene, but growing fast.
You give up Bend's nightlife, restaurant density, and established trail systems within city limits. You also deal with more wind. In exchange you get 30–40% savings on housing, Roberts Field on your doorstep, a downtown that's actually improving, and easier commutes to Sisters, Terrebonne, and Smith Rock.