Bend leaders push for housing at all income levels as prices outpace wages
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — As Bend’s population continues to climb, city leaders say the growing gap between housing costs and local incomes is becoming one of the community’s most pressing challenges.
The city’s population has grown from about 74,000 in 2010 to more than 110,000 in 2026, according to city data and World Population Review. Over the same period, home prices have surged. A home valued at $295,000 in 2016 was worth about $647,000 by 2022 and is now nearing $895,000, according to Realtor.com.
Local officials say wages have not kept pace, leaving many workers struggling to live in the community they serve.
Mayor Melanie Kebler said the city’s goal has long been to ensure housing is accessible for all workers, not just higher-income earners.
“What the city council has had as a goal for many years now is that if you work in Bend, then you should be able to afford to live in Bend. And that concludes all kinds of jobs,” Kebler said.
Kebler said the strain on so-called working professionals highlights how widespread the issue has become.
“Even when we talk about working professionals not having enough resources to get a home, what we’re saying is look how bad the issue is,” she said. “Because if those working professionals are having trouble getting a home, folks all the way down the income structure are going to be having trouble finding rent and homes to buy too.”
She added that the solution requires increasing housing supply across the board to reduce competition and stabilize prices.
“What we really need to do is we need to have homes at every level,” Kebler said. “We don’t want doctors moving here and competing on a scarcity of homes that other folks are trying to buy with a lower income, because there’s just not enough homes to go around.”
City leaders say they have been working for years to plan for growth through state-required development strategies, while also updating policies and investing in housing.
Efforts include an affordable housing fee on development projects, which helps fund deed-restricted units that must remain affordable to certain income levels over time. At the same time, the city continues to encourage construction of market-rate housing to increase supply and ease pressure on prices.
Kebler said those efforts are aimed at creating a more balanced housing market that serves a wide range of residents.
“A lot of that affordable housing work, and especially if you look at our goals now, we have certain numbers for each category of homes, including very low-income apartments and homes that are going to serve some of those folks who are on the lower end of the income scale,” she said. “We need to have homes for everybody in Bend to be able to afford.”
Affordable housing in Bend is typically defined as housing available to households earning up to 80% of area median income for homeownership and 60% for rentals.
According to the City of Bend, several local organizations are also working to connect residents with housing resources. Housing Works provides rental assistance, Section 8 vouchers and homebuyer programs across Central Oregon. NeighborImpact offers services focused on housing stability, including help for first-time buyers and renters.
Other options include Habitat for Humanity, which provides homeownership opportunities for qualifying families, and HomeShare Oregon, which connects homeowners with spare rooms to renters seeking more affordable living arrangements. Thrive Central Oregon and Pacific Crest Affordable Housing also offer support and develop affordable units in the region.
City leaders say increasing housing supply at all income levels will be key as Bend continues to grow, while local organizations remain a critical resource for those navigating the tight housing market.
