Pros and Cons of Living in Redmond

Redmond's core trade-off pairs genuine affordability and Central Oregon's real regional airport against a real, disclosed school-quality weakness and a smaller-designation trauma hospital than Bend.

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Pro: genuinely more affordable than Bend, with real airport access

Redmond's housing and rent run genuinely, substantially below Bend's comparable figures, and Redmond Municipal Airport (RDM) -- the airport that actually serves Bend -- sits directly in the city itself, undergoing a real, current $180 million expansion.

Pro: genuinely fast population growth and a low property tax rate

Redmond's population grew a real, disclosed +16.88% since 2020, and Deschutes County's effective property tax rate runs a real, disclosed, genuinely LOW 0.56%-0.72%.

Con: a real, disclosed school-quality weakness

Redmond schools carry a cited average SchoolGrade of D+, with 30% actual proficiency versus a 34% projected benchmark -- a genuine, honest trade-off for families prioritizing school quality.

Con: a smaller-designation trauma hospital and an in-state crime-rate comparison

St. Charles Medical Center - Redmond operates as a Level III Trauma Center, genuinely smaller in scope than Bend's Level II flagship, and Redmond's crime rate ran higher than 84% of other Oregon cities and towns per this citation.

Key takeaways

Pro: genuinely more affordable housing and rent than Bend, plus RDM's real regional airport located in the city itself.
Pro: genuinely fast population growth and a low Deschutes County property tax rate.
Con: a real, disclosed average SchoolGrade of D+ for Redmond schools.
Con: a smaller Level III trauma hospital designation and a less-favorable in-state crime-rate comparison.

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Last reviewed: 2026-08-25. Independent research; not financial, tax, or legal advice -- confirm current figures with a local professional before making a decision.