*U.S. Census Bureau
Annual estimates - Portland State University Population Research Center

Source: Deschutes County Coordinated Population Forecast
*La Pine Incorporated as a city in late 2006 and will be broken out in future Profiles.

One of the leading reasons people are flocking to the region is our climate. With an average of 10-15 inches of precipitation per year, yet four distinct seasons, the region appeals to many from areas with a reputation for rain (Portland and Seattle) as well as those used to sunny, warmer climates (San Jose and Los Angeles). When it comes to sun, Central Oregon has more sunny days on average than Houston, Texas and just 14% less sun than Phoenix, Arizona.

Due to a well-established and growing visitor industry, Central Oregon offers many “big city” amenities such as four-star restaurants, some of the West’s best brewpubs, the largest concentration of destination resorts and golf courses in the Northwest, and world-class recreation facilities. At the same time, the region still enjoys the benefits of small-town America: low crime, excellent schools, quality yet affordable housing, and active grass-roots civic involvement from its residents.

Jefferson County is the most ethnically diverse in the region with nearly 33.6 % of the population either of Hispanic or American Indian origin.  Deschutes and Crook County are predominantly comprised of white residents, however population demographics are changing in these counties as more new residents with a variety of ethnic heritage call the region home.  For example, Crook County’s Hispanic population doubled over the past decade, going from 338 to 1,082 or 5.6% of total residents.

Because Bend and Central Oregon have been celebrated in national and regional press as one of the most desirable places to retire, many assume that our population is skewed toward older residents.  Actually, the region has a healthy mixture of ages, with higher than average percentage of school age children 5-14 than either state or national averages (a testimony that people believe it is a good place to raise children) and higher than state averages for the 35-44 and 45-54 age categories.  Still, Central Oregon’s climate and relative low cost of living is attractive to retirees – we also have a higher percentage of people living here between the ages of 55 to 74 than either Oregon or the U.S. as a whole.