Because La Pine was an unincorporated area until 2006, official population figures for the area have not yet been developed. Estimates for the greater La Pine area (south of Sunriver and north of the Klamath County line) are between 15,000 and 16,000 residents – making it potentially the second largest population “center” in the Central Oregon region. The population estimate for zip code 97739 in 2007 was 9,421 residents. Portland State University's Population Research Center estimated in July 2008 that the incorporated town of La Pine had 1,610 residents.

La Pine and its surrounding area has become a hub of activity for the renewable energy industry. The city boasts the first gold LEED certified building east of the Cascade Mountains, Midstate Electric Cooperative, and with the completion of Little Deschutes Lodge Retirement Center, will have the first platinum LEED building – the highest certification available.

The area abounds with natural scenic and recreational sites, including Newberry National Monument (Paulina Peak Caldera, Paulina & East Lakes, Big Obsidian Flow and vistas with a view of five states); La Pine State Park which includes Oregon's largest Ponderosa Pine, Wickiup and Crane Prairie Reservoirs, Sparks, Elk, Odell, Crescent, Davis, Twin Lakes; Little Deschutes and Deschutes Rivers; Wickiup Butte and Lake, and Pringle Falls. In addition, La Pine sports an award winning 18-hole public golf course, Quail Run, has many ATV track and trails, snowmobile trails, horse camping, kayaking, premier fly fishing, rafting, hiking trails, and great geocaching locations.