Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bend, OR
VS
Omaha, NE
🏆 Bend leads 16 of 23 categories
Bend
Oregon
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,671 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
99,442
Omaha
Nebraska
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$70,202
Violent Crime Index
97
Population
489,201 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bend, OR
Pros
54% less violent crime than Omaha
Violent crime is well below the national average (168.5 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $12,469 more per year on average
More college-educated — 48.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 43°F vs 32°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,900
Higher rents — median is $1,649/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Omaha
Omaha, NE
Pros
Homes cost $367k less ($210,300 vs $576,900)
Rent averages $550/mo less ($1,099 vs $1,649)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Bend
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.5)
Smaller class sizes — 16.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Bend by $12,469/yr
Property crime (3161.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Bend
Median Income
$12,469
$82,671 vs $70,202/yr
Bend
Violent Crime
54% lower
168.5 vs 369.0 per 100k
Omaha
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 92.5 vs 105.8 (100 = US avg)
Omaha
Median Home Value
$367k less
$210,300 vs $576,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bend, OR | Omaha, NE |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.8⚠ High | 92.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $576,900⚠ High | $210,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,649⚠ High | $1,099 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,671 ✓ Higher | $70,202 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 19.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 19.0% ✓ Higher | 11.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 118⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.0:1 | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.4% ✓ Higher | 39.2% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 90.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bend-LaPine Administrative SD 1 | OMAHA PUBLIC SCHOOLS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.5°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.8°F | 85.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.6" ✓ Drier | 33.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 21.6" ✓ Less | 27.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,442 | 489,201 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 35.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.2% ✓ Higher | 57.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.0% ✓ More | 13.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bend's cost of living index is 105.8 vs Omaha's 92.5 (US average = 100).
Omaha is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bend leads 16 of 23 categories. Bend wins 16 and Omaha wins 7. 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 Omaha or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,900 vs $210,300 median home), income ($82,671 vs $70,202), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bend, OR and Omaha, NE are about 1,292 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.