Bend is roughly divided into its West and East sides by Highway 97. NW Bend consists of 4 neighborhoods: bordering downtown is Old Bend with its charm and character of by-gone days, River West which surrounds Old Bend to the west, Summit West the western most developed area within the city limits and Awbrey Butte to the north.

NW Bend is home to many local favorites such as the downtown shopping area with its restaurants, bars, retail stores and services. Drake Park, which borders Mirror Pond in Old Bend, is the site for many festivals and events during the year. If charm and character are what you’re looking for, Old Bend and River West should be top of your list for walkable, character filled neighborhoods on the west side.

Bend is known for its parks and NW Bend is no exception boasting a total of 27 parks. The newest and one of the largest parks is Discovery Park in Summit West. Home to a 3 acre lake, Sports field, off-leash dog area and 20 acres of open space. Shelvin Park is full of Aspen trees and miles of winding trails along the river. It’s one of my favorite places to walk my dog on the warmest days of summer. Nature lovers will enjoy the Riley Ranch Nature Preserve which is home to many native plant species, migratory birds and wildlife.

NW Bend has much to offer the golf enthusiast with Awbrey Butte’s 2 golf courses, Awbrey Glen and River’s Edge. The Butte’s custom homes are built to capture amazing mountain views in all directions. If mountain biking is your sport, then you’ll want to head out Skyliners Rd to Phil’s Trailhead where you can enjoy over 11 miles of mountain bike trails. For hikers, Tumalo Falls is just 13 miles west of downtown Bend.

Bend’s west side has a more “forested” feel with Ponderosa Pines being the dominant trees compared to the east side’s Juniper trees and high desert landscape. Most visitors spend time on the west side of town with its quaint older neighborhoods, main street shopping & restaurants, large parks, proximity to hiking and biking trails and Mt Bachelor. Because of these nearby amenities, the median home price on the west side is about 40% higher than Bend’s east side. As of May 2020, the median home price in NW Bend was $750,000, while the city of Bend as a whole was $460,000 and the East side the lowest at $425,000.

SW Bend consists of 3 distinct neighborhoods which include Southern Crossing, just south of Old Bend and home to The Old Mill Shopping District, the Brookswood Corridor (also just called SW Bend) divided from Century West by the Deschutes River and National Forest land.

The “pearl” of SW Bend is the Deschutes River and having direct access to it will certainly add value to any property. Here you will enjoy the Old Mill shopping district and the beauty of Riverbend and Farewell Bend Parks which host many activities and festivals each year. On a hot summer day, you can start your river floating adventure at one of these parks and float right past the Les Schwab Amphitheatre. If you time it right, you’ll have the best concert seat…for free!

From the resort community of Tetherow, with it’s golf course and luxury amenities, to the ever changing Woodriver Village nestled in the curve of the Deschutes River, to the desirable planned communities of the Brookswood corridor, there’s no shortage of home styles to choose from if living in SW Bend is your desire. If your goal is to head to Mt Bachelor often, the Century West neighborhood gives you the best access to Century Drive and the shortest trip to the mountain.

Homes in the luxury communities of Tetherow and Broken Top have a median price of $1,225,000. Living in one of these luxury communities makes the trip to Mt Bachelor a short one. Outside of the luxury resort communities, homes with 3-4 beds, 2-3 baths and 1,200sf – 2,800sf in SW Bend have a median price of $550,000 and range from $390,000 up to $870,000 (as of May 2020).

NE Bend consists of 3 neighborhoods which include, Boyd Acres at the northern most end, Mountain View on the eastern edge and the centrally located Orchard District. Take a hike or drive to the top of Pilot Butte and you’ll enjoy 360 degree views of the area. Nearby is the Forum Shopping Center which includes Costco, Old Navy, Whole Foods and other major retailers.

The majority of homes in NE Bend are in close proximity to the St. Charles Medical Center, the largest hospital in Central Oregon and a level-2 trauma center. Offering the 2nd lowest median Single-family home price of $432,000 (as of May 2020), NE Bend is home to many 1st-time buyers and investors.

Looking for charm and character on the east side? Try the Orchard District just west of Pilot Butte. Back in the 1930’s this area was an apple orchard. The original orchard farm house and office are still standing. Today it’s a mix of older homes and pockets of new construction giving buyers many choices of home styles in this desirable close-in neighborhood.

Just because it’s not “the West side”, don’t think NE Bend gets shortchanged when it comes to parks and outdoor activities. Pine Nursery Park is a local’s favorite for walking, riding, fishing, playing sports and the city’s largest off-leash dog park. If you feel like wandering in the high desert, head east on Hwy 20 about 17 miles and hike on endless miles of trails in the Badlands Wilderness area.

SE Bend includes the neighborhoods of Larkspur at its northern border, the Old Farm District at the center and Southeast Bend at the southern most edge. Boasting the lowest median Single-family home price of $416,000 (as of May 2020), SE Bend is attractive to many buyers seeking a larger lot size and some elbow room. Offering a mixture of established and newer communities, SE Bend has a laid-back feel than many look for when moving to Bend. Home to many ranches and farms of the past, developers did not sacrifice lot sizes when creating many of the communities here. You can still find homes with 1/4 to 1/2 acre lots in SE Bend.

SE Bend boast two major recreation centers operated by Bend Parks & Recreation: Juniper Swim & Fitness center and the Bend Senior Center, which is currently undergoing a major expansion due to the growth in popularity of the east side living. In addition there are 8 neighborhood parks and the city’s only baseball stadium, Vince Genna Stadium, home to the Bend Elks baseball team.

Coming in 2021 are two exciting additions to SE Bend: the city’s newest High School, Caldera High School and the 37 acre Alpenglow Community Park. The park will feature an off-leash dog area, demonstration gardens, climbing wall, splash pad, food truck & event area and much more. The park is located south of Murray Rd on SE15th St across from The Bridges community and just north of the new Caldera High School campus.