In the early 1990s about 70 percent of the Bend population was less than 50 years old. The World War II baby-boomers made up the biggest bulge in the population pyramid (about 29 percent in 1990) followed by a plateau of baby-boomer children and grandchildren. In the year 2000 the baby-boomers were in their early 40s to mid-50s age range, and by 2020 they will be in their 60s to mid-70s.

The 2000 Census showed the largest proportion of the city’s population was between 25 and 54 years of age representing 45 percent of the city’s population. About 27 percent of the population was 19 years or less in age. About 12 percent of the population was 65 years and over in age. The OEA 2000 to 2040 population forecast for Deschutes County included forecasts by age groups. The following table shows the breakdown of age groups for the county in 2000 and in 2025 based on the OEA Deschutes County population forecast for 2000 to 2040.

The high percent of growth due to in-migrants affects the population age distribution. Even though the baby-boomer generation will make up part of the growth, an even larger portion of the new residents will be the baby-boomer children and grandchildren. This population growth due to younger people moving into the area will create a population age distribution that is contrary to the historic pattern of the baby-boomer peak followed by a plateau.