Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bend, OR
VS
Lincoln, NE
🏆 Bend leads 14 of 23 categories
Bend
Oregon
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,671 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
99,442
Lincoln
Nebraska
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,846
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
290,531 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bend, OR
Pros
52% less violent crime than Lincoln
Violent crime is well below the national average (168.5 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $14,825 more per year on average
More college-educated — 48.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 43°F vs 36°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 89°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,900
Higher rents — median is $1,649/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Lincoln
Lincoln, NE
Pros
Homes cost $347k less ($230,400 vs $576,900)
Rent averages $651/mo less ($998 vs $1,649)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Bend
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (3.3%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.0)
Smaller class sizes — 13.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Bend by $14,825/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Bend
Median Income
$14,825
$82,671 vs $67,846/yr
Bend
Violent Crime
52% lower
168.5 vs 347.9 per 100k
Lincoln
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 92.0 vs 105.8 (100 = US avg)
Lincoln
Median Home Value
$347k less
$230,400 vs $576,900
Lincoln
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
3.3% vs 3.8% unemployment
Lincoln
Summer Heat
5.6°F warmer
July avg high 89.4°F vs 83.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bend, OR | Lincoln, NE |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.8⚠ High | 92.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $576,900⚠ High | $230,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,649⚠ High | $998 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,671 ✓ Higher | $67,846 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High | 3.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 18.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 19.0% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 102⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 92 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.0:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.4% ✓ Higher | 40.9% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 92.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bend-LaPine Administrative SD 1 | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.5°F ✓ Warmer | 35.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.8°F | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.6" ✓ Drier | 30.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 21.6" ✓ Less | 26.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,442 | 290,531 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.2% ✓ Higher | 56.3% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.0% ✓ More | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bend's cost of living index is 105.8 vs Lincoln's 92.0 (US average = 100).
Lincoln is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bend leads 14 of 23 categories. Bend wins 14 and Lincoln wins 9. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Bend to Lincoln or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,900 vs $230,400 median home), income ($82,671 vs $67,846), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bend, OR and Lincoln, NE are about 1,271 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.