Photo: David Wilson · CC BY 2.0On CDC estimates, Bend as a whole is healthier than 91% of U.S. towns
Bend beats Oregon on 13 of 26 measures CDC estimates, and trails on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Bend. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Bend
Bend is an active town
Only 15.3% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 20.1% across Oregon. The town has 81 miles of trails across 83 parks and preserves. Habits ↓
Bend has a top-rated hospital
St. Charles Medical Center - Bend is rated 4 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room. Getting care ↓
Obesity and diabetes are less common in Bend
Bend runs below Oregon on five chronic conditions, most of all obesity (26.5% vs 33.6%), diabetes (8.9% vs 11.2%) and COPD (5.6% vs 6.8%). Conditions ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Oregon figure falls outside Bend’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B+ to A+.
What’s behind Bend’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Bend is healthier than 91% of U.S. towns, #9 of 142 in Oregon. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is no exercise (fewer adults who get no exercise than 97% of towns); the weakest is mental distress, still better than 68%.
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Bend’s median household income is $96,394; among the 9,114 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($72K–$120K), it’s healthier than 94%, about where its income would put it.
At 107,342 residents, Bend is graded like any town, from one citywide estimate; its rank among the 395 U.S. cities over 100,000 is the fairer comparison.
Everyday habits, side by side with Oregon
Share of adults, with the Oregon figure marked.
81 miles of trails across 83 parks and preserves
Care in and near Bend
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Bend, plus the nearest just outside it.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Bend; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Out of every 100 Bend adults…
Bend runs below OR on 6 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Bend adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Oregon.
How Bend adults are doing
About the same as Oregon on each measure.
A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Bend and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bend | A | 26.5% | 8.9% | 10% | CDC place |
| Tetherow | — | — | — | — | |
| Deschutes River Woods | A− | 28% | 10% | 11.7% | CDC place |
Tetherow: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Bend adults live with a disability (Oregon 30%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Bend
Share of adults, 33 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 26 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Bend is better than Oregon on 13 and worse on 0; on the rest, the Oregon figure falls inside Bend’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Bend | OR | U.S. | vs OR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 14.9%13.2–16.9 | 19% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.9%10.6–13.4 | 13.8% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16%14.3–17.9 | 17.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 26.5%21.9–31.9 | 33.6% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 8.9%7.8–10.3 | 11.2% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 30.1%26.9–33.6 | 32.7% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 32.5%29.1–36.4 | 34.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 26.2%23.5–29.2 | 27.4% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11.8%10.5–13.2 | 11.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.2%8.4–10.1 | 8.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.4%4.9–6.1 | 6.5% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 5.6%5–6.3 | 6.8% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.8%2.6–3 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 9.2%7.4–11.1 | 12.5% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 10%8.7–11.6 | 12% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 15.3%12.9–18.2 | 20.1% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 17.7%15–20.9 | 15.4% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 26.1%21.6–30.4 | 30.6% | 36% | Better |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.5%5.6–7.5 | 8.5% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 73.9%70.4–77.5 | 72.6% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 69.8%66.6–72.7 | 64.7% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.9%83.1–86.6 | 84% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 70.4%67.1–73.8 | 71.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 65%60.3–69.2 | 63.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 79.7%73.2–84.8 | 77.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.3%22.1–29 | 27.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 25.7%22.6–29.1 | 30% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 10.5%9.3–12 | 13% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13%11.6–14.6 | 14.6% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.2%5.5–6.9 | 7.1% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 3.7%3.4–4 | 4.6% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.7%6–7.5 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.8%2.6–3 | 3.4% | 3.8% | Lower |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the Oregon figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Bend
Is Bend a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Bend is healthier than 91% of U.S. towns: A for health, #9 of 142 in Oregon. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 94%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Bend?
CDC estimates 26.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 21.9% and 31.9%, against 33.6% across Oregon and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Bend?
St. Charles Medical Center - Bend in Bend, 1.8 miles in a straight line from Bend’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Bend have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.6–7.5%), against 8.5% across Oregon.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Bend more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B+ to A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Bend.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Oregon figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.