$203,900/yr
is the income needed to buy the typical $663,933 home in Bend, OR at today's 6.95% rate — about $4,758/mo. The local median household ($85,509) falls $118,391 short.
The math (shown)
663,933 price − 10% down (66,393) = 597,540 loan
30-yr fixed at 6.95% on 597,540 = 3,955/mo principal+interest
+ 802/mo est. taxes+insurance (1.45%/yr of value — national placeholder)
4,758/mo PITI ÷ 0.28 = 16,992/mo → 203,900/yr required
against Zillow ZHVI 2026-08 (Zillow ZHVI (typical home value, smoothed, all-homes 33–67pct tier)) and the 6.95% FRED 30-yr rate (2026-09-17). Local median income: $85,509 (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 5-year, median household income (table B19013)).
Can I afford Bend, OR on my salary?
Your salary:
Rent vs own here
Honest null: HUD FMR needs a free huduser.gov token (env.HUD_TOKEN). Honest-null until set. (HUD FMR needs a free token; not wired here.)
FAQ
How much do I need to make to live in Bend, OR?
To buy the typical home, about $203,900/yr. Renting needs less; this page sizes the buy.
What home value is this based on?
Zillow's ZHVI typical-home-value for the Bend, OR metro (2026-08): $663,933.
Is the mortgage rate current?
Yes — 6.95% from FRED's weekly 30-year fixed average (2026-09-17).
Glossary
ZHVI
Zillow Home Value Index — the typical home value for a region (35th–65th percentile, smoothed, seasonally adjusted).
Front-end DTI
Housing payment as a share of gross income; lenders commonly cap it near 28%.
PITI
Principal, Interest, Taxes, and Insurance — the full monthly housing cost.