Which are the best neighborhoods in Bend, Oregon? Part 1 – NW Bend

Which are the best neighborhoods in Bend? Naturally when someone decides to relocate to Bend, OR they want to know which neighborhoods are the best or most desirable. In this series of 4 posts, we will provide information about the 13 different neighborhoods in Bend, OR. Hopefully this post will help you get a feel for which Bend, OR neighborhood will be the best fit for you.

In this first post of the series, we focus on the neighborhoods in NW Bend, OR. The maps above and below will show you where each neighborhood is located (click on the map to enlarge it), and within each neighborhood, there are numerous subdivisions. Below is a list of the main neighborhoods in NW Bend.

Why do people want to live in NW Bend? When talking about Bend, Oregon you’ll often hear people talk about the west side or the east side with Hwy 97 being the dividing line. The west side of Bend (particularly NW Bend) is trendier and more desirable to most people. On the west side you’ll find downtown, the Old Mill District, the Deschutes River, COCC, hiking and biking trails, and lots of restaurants and local shops. The climate is also a bit different from east side to west side. The west side has lots of Ponderosa pine trees because it’s closer to the national forest while the east side has more juniper trees and more of a high desert feel. When people vacation in Bend, they typically spend most of their time in NW Bend and therefore, consider that to be “Bend.” As you probably already guessed, because the west side is more desirable it’s also more expensive. The median home price in NW Bend is typically around 50% higher than Bend’s overall median home price.

One thing to remember is that many east side neighborhoods are still very close to the west side amenities. Ask anyone in Bend how far something is and you’ll probably hear “about 10-15 minutes.” Homes on the east side are generally more affordable and offer larger lots, including some small farms and ranches. St. Charles Medical Center is located on the east side so it’s a natural fit if you want to be close to medical services. The east side is also home to Bend Factory Outlets, Bend River Promenade, and The Forum shopping center where Costco, Barnes & Noble, Pier 1, Whole Foods, and Old Navy reside. The east has several breweries and popular eateries including Worthy Brewing Co., 10 Barrel east, Bridge 99 Brewery, Craft Kitchen & Brewery, Spider City Brewing, and On Tap food truck lot and tap house. Recreational opportunities include Juniper Swim & Fitness Center, the Badlands Wilderness Area, Horse Ridge Area Trail for mountain biking, Pilot Butte State Park, the newly renovated Larkspur Community Center, Alpenglow Community Park, Pine Nursery Park.

Which schools will my children attend? If you live in NW Bend, the school attendance areas vary from one subdivision to the next, so if you have your heart set on a particular school, make sure you check with the Bend LaPine School District to verify which school your child will attend. Schools serving this area include High Lakes Elementary, William E. Miller Elementary, North Star Elementary, Cascade Middle School, Pacific Crest Middle School, and Summit High School.

Subdivision map of NW Bend Oregon

Northwest Bend Neighborhoods:
AWBREY BUTTE
SUMMIT WEST
RIVER WEST – WEST SIDE
OLD BEND – DOWNTOWN

AWBREY BUTTE: Awbrey Butte is in NW Bend and locals refer to it simply as “The Butte.” Some of the nicest and largest homes in Bend are located on The Butte and some of Bend’s most amazing Cascade Mountain views can be found here, particularly on the NW side of The Butte. Some homes enjoy views of the entire mountain range from Mt. Bachelor to Mt. Hood. The southern and southeastern sides of The Butte have views of Downtown Bend and Pilot Butte, where the fireworks display takes place each 4th of July. Awbrey Butte has 786 homesites with a mix of older and new homes, and the lots are generally larger (0.25 – 0.5 acre on average) and heavily treed, which provides privacy and a sense of being surrounded by open space. Fences are discouraged on The Butte, which contributes to the open feel and allows wildlife to migrate through the area. The Butte is also home to two golf clubs, The Awbrey Glen Golf Club and River’s Edge Golf Resort, tennis courts, and numerous parks and trails. Awbrey Butte does have a Home Owner’s Association with a small annual fee that enforces the CC&Rs that protect the owner’s property values and beautiful neighborhood appearance.

Popular subdivisions on The Butte include: Awbrey Butte, Awbrey Glen, Awbrey Meadows, Awbrey Park, Awbrey Point, Awbrey Village, Awbrey Woods, North Rim, River’s Edge Village, River Park Estates, Wyndemere, City View, and The Heights of Bend.

SUMMIT WEST: The newest neighborhood addition in Bend is Summit West. Summit West begins on the western edge of River West and continues west on Shevlin Park Rd. through various new subdivisions all the way to Forest Service land and Shevlin Park, and from Awbrey Butte south to Century West. The majority of homes in this part of town are new. During Bend’s real estate boom, it was relatively easy for builders to expand to the west, and expand they did. The homes in this area range from small simple homes to large architecturally stunning homes. Many homes have a private feel since this is such a heavily treed area on the way to Shevlin Park. Living in this area puts you close to many of Bend’s outdoor recreation areas including Phil’s Trail, Shevlin Park, Tumalo Falls Park, and hundreds of miles of trails for mountain biking, trail running, or hiking. You also have easy access to Newport Ave. and Galveston Ave., both hubs with restaurants, coffee shops, and retail stores. Popular subdivisions within Summit West include: Northwest Crossing, Discovery West, Westgate, Shevlin Commons, Shevlin Pines, Shevlin Ridge, Shevlin Reserve, Outcrop, Marken Summit, Valhalla Heights, Skyliner Summit, and Three Pines. New schools were built as part of Northwest Crossing, a unique new neighborhood with its own shopping center, parks, and schools.

RIVER WEST: As the name implies, the River West neighborhood in Bend, OR is located on the west side of the Deschutes River. Many people consider this neighborhood to be a continuation of downtown and homes are very similar to those in Old Bend with Craftsman and Bungalows predominating. Most homes were built in the early 20th century although you will see new construction dispersed throughout. Newport Ave., Galveston, and 14th St. are home to many restaurants, coffee shops, and retail stores, making River West a great location for those wanting to be close to it all. Some popular hangouts include 10 Barrel Brewing Company, The Victorian Cafe, Newport Market, Kanpai Sushi, Chow, and Nancy P’s Cafe & Bakery. Some of the subdivisions that lie within River West are Awbrey Heights, Bonne Home, Miller Heights, Newport Landing, West Hills, Highland Addition, and River Terrace. This area is often referred to as “the west side” of Bend.

OLD BEND – DOWNTOWN: This neighborhood is located on the east side of the Deschutes River in the heart of Bend and contains Downtown Bend, the Historic District, and the surrounding residences. There are many historical sites within the boundaries and some of them are recognized with historical plaques and markers. Lot and home sizes tend to be smaller, although along Drake Park and Mirror Pond, you’ll find some of the most prominent and distinguished homes in all of Bend. Many homes were built in the early 1900’s and architectural styles include Tudor Revival, Bungalow, and Craftsman. As you might expect, downtown is full of great restaurants, art galleries, and boutiques. The Old Bend Neighborhood generally encompasses the area south of Franklin Avenue, south and east of the Deschutes River, north of Arizona Avenue and west of the Bend Parkway. Home sizes range from 600 square foot cottages/bungalows to historic residences of over 5000 square feet. Subdivisions within Old Bend include: Park, Deschutes, Mill, Hastings, Staats, Bend Park, and Mill Quarter.

Here are links to the other posts in the series:
PART 2 – SW BEND
PART 3 – SE BEND
PART 4 – NE BEND

Original content by Cheri Smith. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Cheri Smith and http://www.buyinbend.wordpress.org with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

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