Bend, California Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 593, Bend's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Bend is a small community located in California, within Tehama County. The total population is 593. It ranks as the 1180th most populous out of 1,570 Census-designated places in California.

Age Demographics

The median age in Bend is 61.2 years. This is 61% higher than the state median of 37.9 years. Only 3.4% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 17.4% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The poverty rate stands at 2.5%. This is 79% lower than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. This exceptionally low poverty rate indicates strong economic prosperity across the community. The survey records no unemployed residents in Bend, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $461,500. Housing costs are 37% lower than the state median of $734,700. 93.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 67% higher than the state average of 55.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Bend is White (non-Hispanic), making up 62.4% of the population. Asian residents account for 13.2%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (62.4% vs 33.8%).

Education

21.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 42% lower than the state rate of 37.1%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. No surveyed resident aged 25 or older reported leaving school before earning a high school diploma, though a rate of exactly 100% reflects the limits of a small sample. Notably, 18.3% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Bend, California is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against California state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,570 Census-designated places in California. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.