Find Out More About the Bend, Redmond and La Pine Area Economy and Job Market
 Request our Free Bend, Redmond and La Pine Relocation Package. It's packed full of useful and important information about the Bend, Redmond and La Pine, Oregon area. Don't move here without it! Remember: we'll send it to you for free and without obligation. Just fill out the form and we will send it right out... This page is intended to provide a very brief overview of economic facts and figures so you can see what it is like to do business in one of the most beautiful places in the Pacific Northwest. The Central Oregon region encompasses dramatic snow capped mountain ranges to high desert plateaus within counties of Crook, Deschutes and Jefferson and the Confederate Tribes of Warm Spings. We will focus mainly on Deschutes County, which is generally referred to as Bend, but really encompasses the towns of Bend, Sisters, and Redmond. Topography and Climate The geographical climate for Central Oregon is predominately High Desert. Summer temperatures range from an average high of 85 degrees Fahrenheit to a low of 44 degrees Fahrenheit. Winters average highs are in the 40s to lows in the 20s. Precipitation ranges from 10.5 to 12.4 inches, annually. Every community in Central Oregon has its own variations of temperature and precipitation, relative to its elevation and proximity to the mountains.
Elevation
|
Bend
Redmond
Sisters
Sunriver
LaPine |
3623'
3077'
3200'
4100'
4300' |
Total Area Population:
146,350
| |
1995 |
2000 |
|
Deschutes County |
89,500 |
109,600 |
|
Bend |
29,425 |
53,040 |
|
Redmond |
9,650 |
13,705 |
|
Sisters |
765 |
850 |
|
Unicorporated areas |
49,660 |
42,005 |
|
Crook County |
15,700 |
18,150 |
|
Jefferson County |
15,400 |
18,600 |
Diversity and Technology
Traditionally a region dependant on wood products, agriculture and more
recently tourism, Central Oregon has steadily diversified its employment and
economic base. For the past decade, Deschutes County has lead Oregon in high
technology growth (over 270%) . Numerous companies from the Silicon Valley,
Portland-Vancouver Metro, and Puget Sound have relocated or expanded here -
escaping skyrocketing costs, electrical shortages and tight labor markets. Many
of these firms are small but extremely innovative, producing niche-market
products from semiconductors to software, medical instruments to recreational
equipment.
Top 10 Area
Employers
|
Bright Wood Corp. |
1470 |
|
St. Charles Medical
Center |
1463 |
|
Les Schwab Tires |
1184 |
|
Mt. Bachelor (Seasonal)
|
825 |
|
Sunriver Resort |
700 |
|
Eagle Crest Partners (Golf
Resort) |
550 |
|
Wal-Mart |
530 |
|
Fred Meyer |
525 |
|
Clear Pine Mouldings
|
520 |
|
Beaver Motor Coaches
|
509 |
Financial
Of the thirteen banks in
Central Oregon, two are national and six are statewide with several branches.
There are several credit unions and savings and loans organizations in each
community.
Media
Twelve newspapers are
available in Central Oregon, including two dailies. Several national and
regional newspapers are also available throughout the region.
Television
Seven television
stations - four national affiliates and one public broadcasting - and five
cable television companies serve the area.
Radio
Central Oregon has 12 radio
stations that broadcast throughout the region. Included are talk radio, sports,
traditional, progressive, hot country, adult contemporary, Christian,
classical, oldies and easy listening rock.
Employment and Payroll
Deschutes County
|
Industry |
Average
Employment |
Total Payroll |
Annual Average Wage
|
|
Construction |
3,877 |
$112,332,093 |
$28,977 |
|
Manufacturing |
5,895 |
$182,623,111 |
$30,980 |
|
Trans., Utilities |
1,886 |
$67,209,942 |
$35,632 |
|
Trade |
13,164 |
$249,958,016 |
$18,988 |
|
Fin./Ins./Real Est. |
3,019 |
$87,116,299 |
$28,856 |
|
Services |
13,009 |
$310,663,336 |
$23,880 |
|
Federal Govt. |
835 |
$34,175,368 |
$40,949 |
|
State Govt. |
791 |
$27,627,010 |
$34,958 |
|
Local Govt. |
5,203 |
$150,060,560 |
$28,839 |
|
Other |
759 |
$15,439,623 |
$20,349 |
Income Levels, Median
Family of 4
|
County |
2000 |
1999 |
1998 |
|
Deschutes |
$41,600 |
$41,500 |
$40,300 |
|
Crook |
$34,400 |
$34,400 |
$32,700 |
|
Jefferson |
$35,900 |
$35,900 |
$34,700 |
|
Oregon |
$46,000 |
$45,100 |
$43,200 |
Average Wages Offered For
Selected Occupations
|
Trade |
Central
Oregon |
Oregon |
WA |
CA |
|
Carpenter |
$14.15 |
$15.79 |
$18.17 |
$17.97 |
|
Truck Driv. Heavy |
$13.13 |
$13.72 |
$15.64 |
$14.77 |
|
Plumber |
$16.77 |
$21.72 |
$22.18 |
$19.51 |
|
Salesperson: Retail |
$ 8.96 |
$ 9.97 |
$10.26 |
$ 9.65 |
|
Cook: Restaurant |
$ 8.44 |
$ 8.27 |
$ 8.78 |
$ 8.60 |
|
Secretary |
$10.18 |
$11.13 |
$12.66 |
$13.87 |
|
Receptionist |
$ 8.91 |
$ 9.81 |
$ 9.81 |
$10.11 |
|
Professional |
|
Marketing Manager |
$23.36 |
$27.79 |
$26.94 |
$31.62 |
|
Electrical Engineer |
$25.57 |
$26.62 |
$ n/a |
$32.05 |
|
Industrial Prod. Mngr
|
$24.31 |
$26.99 |
$28.34 |
$29.53 |
Unemployment
Rates
Deschutes, Crook, and
Jefferson Counties vs Oregon and United States
|
Year |
Central
Oregon |
Oregon |
United States |
|
1996 |
8.7% |
5.9% |
5.4% |
|
1997 |
8.1% |
5.8% |
4.7% |
|
1998 |
7.2% |
5.6% |
4.5% |
|
1999 |
6.7% |
5.7% |
4.2% |
|
2000 |
5.5% |
4.9% |
4.0% |
Housing, Average Monthly
Rent (3 bedroom, 2 bath home)
|
Town |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
|
Bend |
$727 |
$793 |
$852 |
|
Redmond |
$680 |
$705 |
$755 |
|
Sisters |
$N/A |
$1100 |
$875 |
|
Madras/Jefferson
County |
$559 |
$688 |
$600 |
|
Prineville/Crook
County |
$606 |
$589 |
$622 |
All information provided by:
Economic
Development for Central Oregon
63085 N. Hwy. 97, St. 105, Bend, Or.
97701
541-388-3236, 800-342-4135, fax: 541-388-6705
Email:
info@edforco.org
Web info:
www.edforco.org
Financing Your Home >Credit Card Mania
Most people know that a checkered credit history can disqualify you for a home loan, and maxed-out credit cards can do the same thing. But what most people don't know is that merely having a large number of credit cards, even with low balances and a history of timely payments, can disqualify you for a home mortgage loan just as quickly.
According to credit experts, having a number of credit cards can be just as detrimental to the granting of further credit as a history of late payments. Lenders look at it this way: If you have ten credit cards, each with a limit of $5,000, that means you have the potential to run up $50,000 in debt virtually any time you choose. That mere possibility makes you a greater risk, from their point of view.
The moral of the story? If you are planning to apply for a home loan in the future, keep only those credit cards you actually need to use and cancel the others.
|
 |
| Q |
What is the average age range of a second-home buyer in the United States?
|
| A |
Currently, second-home buyers in America are most often between 41 and 44 years of age. |
 See More Real Estate Trivia > |
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- NUMBER1EXPERT™ 
