What it's like to live in North Bend
North Bend is a small city in Oregon with rent below the national average and commutes that run shorter than most cities. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. North Bend deals with county unemployment above the national average, a population that has been shrinking, larger class sizes than the national average, and above-average rainfall.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Short commutes
The not so good
- Above-average unemployment in the county
- Shrinking population
- High student-teacher ratio
- Above-average rainfall
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How North Bend compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to North Bend
Based on North Bend's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,132
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $42,640 a year
- 45% of North Bend renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$70,460
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $35,230
- Homes cost 4.3× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 25% below US
$1,066/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,066 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices run above average, with a median around $352,300. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $352,300 · 45% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
5.8% county unemployment
Unemployment in Coos County is 5.8%, well above the national average of 4.3%. Moving with a job already lined up matters more here. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Coos County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 27% below US
240 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 2654/100k · North Bend Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 44% below US
15 min average commute
Commutes run short here, averaging 14.6 minutes. That's an underrated perk of living in a smaller or well-planned city, where time isn't lost sitting in traffic. 9 in 10 workers drive to work.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are comfortable, with highs around 66°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 41°F. It's a wet climate overall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▼ 21% below US
29% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 29%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
4 public schools inside the boundary
There are 4 public schools inside the boundary and 1 private school. The student-to-teacher ratio is 20:1, slightly above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Oregon Caves National Monument & Preserve (100 miles away).
Bottom line
North Bend's strongest points are rent below the national average and commutes that run shorter than most cities; the main tradeoffs are county unemployment above the national average and a population that has been shrinking. A year of median rent ($1,066/mo) equals 16% of the median household income here, less than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget, anyone prioritizing low crime, and people who want short commutes. It may be a harder fit for anyone moving without a job lined up and anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near North Bend
All Oregon guides →Moving to Roseburg →
46 mi away · pop. 23,778
Rent $1,063/mo · Income $53,918
Compare with North Bend →Moving to Cottage Grove →
65 mi away · pop. 10,698
Rent $1,254/mo · Income $80,875
Compare with North Bend →Not sure North Bend is the one?
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