Prineville, established in 1870—making it the oldest city in Oregon—has a vibrant pioneer history still evident in the city of just over 11,000. Though homesteads once drew settlers to the area, its outdoor recreation and climate keep residents around today. “They want to be in the high desert and enjoy the 300 plus days of sunshine that we get on average every single year without the harsh winters,” says Nick Holmboe, a real estate agent with eXp Realty. “It’s a great option if you’re wanting the Central Oregon lifestyle but not really wanting to deal with cold weather.”
Prineville is Oregon's oldest city.
Residents of Prineville enjoy outdoor activities and 300 plus days of sunshine.
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Pioneer history evident in city events and downtown
Downtown Prineville captures the spirit of the city’s pioneer beginnings. Antique and thrift stores, boutiques, specialty shops and restaurants make up the historic downtown district, while the Bowman Museum preserves the stories of the region’s early settlers, housed in the old Crook County Bank building. “It has lots of brick buildings and Old Western vibes,” Holmboe says. “It’s kind of like you had gone back in time in a sense.”
Nearby Pioneer Park is the city’s oldest park and one of its main gathering spaces. It hosts events like Picnic in the Park and Western Daze, which feature local vendors and live music. Every August, the Crook County Historical Society coronates its new “Pioneer Queen,” a woman whose descendants moved to the county before 1916 and helped settle the area.
Downtown Prineville is full of a variety of shops, restaurants and boutiques.
Prineville's Bowman Museum tells stories of the early settlers and the city's rich history.
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Year-round golf and trout fishing in Prineville
Central Oregon is renowned for its natural beauty and rugged outdoors, and Prineville is no exception. Crooked River Park is the city’s largest green space, with several athletic fields, a covered amphitheater and access to its namesake river. The river flows into the lake-like Prineville Reservoir, and the surrounding state park was the first to be named an International Dark Sky Park in Oregon for its clear views of the night sky. “It’s a great place to go hang out in the summer,” Holmboe says. “My friends and I like to go up there, set up speakers and have a day party.” The Meadow Lakes Golf Course in southwestern Prineville was one of the first to receive “Golf Digest’s” National Environmental Leaders Award. “It’s open year-round, which I love,” Holmboe says.
Crooked River Park has a covered amphitheater and hosts a variety of events for residents of Prineville to enjoy.
The Crooked River meets Prineville Reservoir at the Bowman Dam.
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Homes on acreage with a lower median price
Prineville’s housing stock is a mix of old and new. Cottages and ranch-style homes from the first half of the 20th century are interspersed with new traditional homes from the 1990s and 2000s as well as newer constructions. Many homes come with acreage, while those near the Crooked River may be at an increased risk of flooding. Prineville’s median home sales price is just below $440,000—significantly less than the median prices of both nearby Redmond and Bend, which sit around $515,000 and $759,000, respectively.
Ranch-style homes are commonly found around Prineville.
A number of homes in Prineville have acreage and open land.
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From timber to technology in Prineville
Once home to mining, lumber and farming industries, Prineville has more recently attracted the attention of technology industry vanguards. Facebook and Apple have both built data centers in the city, and the former was the No. 1 employer in Crook County in 2024. Les Schwab Tire Centers, which is headquartered in nearby Bend and maintains manufacturing and distribution facilities in Prineville, took third place that year. The Saint Charles Health System is the region’s largest employer, with some providers based in Prineville.
Prineville was once home to a large lumber industry.
Prineville is the original home of Les Schwab Tire Centers, which now has its headquarters in nearby Bend, Oregon.
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Facebook helps fund STEM and technology programs
The Crook County School District serves more than 3,200 students across three elementary schools, one middle school, two high schools—one of which is alternative—one charter school and two schools that serve rural communities. The district earns an overall B-minus grade from Niche.
With Facebook’s presence in Prineville, the company has helped fund a K-12 robotics program and establish a one-to-one technology ratio across the district. Crook County High School, which also receives a B-minus, is the district’s traditional secondary school.
Pioneer Secondary Alternative High School is located in Prineville, Oregon.
Highways connect to Redmond and Bend
United States Route 26 passes through the heart of Prineville, traveling northwest to Portland and carving through the Ochoco National Forest toward Boise. Oregon state Route 126 connects to the city of Redmond, which is a straight shot about 17 miles south to Bend. The Cascades East Transit system also maintains a route that connects Prineville to Redmond.
Falling property crime and a high desert climate
From 2020 to 2023, Prineville saw a little over a 32% decrease in property crime reports, down from 299 to 202. Over the same span, violent crime in the city trended upward by over 7%, from 181 to 194 reported cases.
Prineville has a cool, semi-arid climate, characterized by warmer days and cooler nights with little precipitation. The drier weather puts the region at an increased risk of possible wildfires.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
