SIDE-BY-SIDE ANALYSIS

Compare U.S. Cities

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CITY VS CITY

See the lifestyle trade-offs at a glance

Longer bars indicate a stronger score for that category. Modeled baselines are labeled separately from verified research.

Nebraska

Bellevue

Modeled lifestyle baseline

70.9/100

Best forBest for people who value a more manageable scale, local routines and lower day-to-day friction.

Highest overall in this comparison

North Dakota

Bismarck

Modeled lifestyle baseline

69.5/100

Best forBest for people who value a more manageable scale, local routines and lower day-to-day friction.

South Dakota

Rapid City

Modeled lifestyle baseline

68.8/100

Best forBest for people who value a more manageable scale, local routines and lower day-to-day friction.

Oklahoma

Edmond

Modeled lifestyle baseline

69.8/100

Best forBest for people who value a more manageable scale, local routines and lower day-to-day friction.

DECISION SUMMARY

Bellevue leads the current overall index.

Use the category battles below to decide whether the overall leader also wins on the parts of life that matter most to you. For a personal answer, run the Lifestyle Match quiz and weight these metrics yourself.

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METRIC BATTLE

Compare the 15 lifestyle dimensions

Cost of Living

Bellevue70.3

Bismarck75.8

Rapid City68.7

Edmond70.2

Housing

Bellevue78.9

Bismarck76.6

Rapid City70.0

Edmond75.8

Safety

Bellevue77.0

Bismarck68.8

Rapid City68.7

Edmond70.5

Job Market

Bellevue74.3

Bismarck67.0

Rapid City66.5

Edmond71.5

Income

Bellevue62.0

Bismarck64.3

Rapid City71.4

Edmond66.8

Education

Bellevue76.4

Bismarck70.6

Rapid City74.6

Edmond74.9

Healthcare

Bellevue74.4

Bismarck73.6

Rapid City69.6

Edmond71.9

Transportation

Bellevue66.4

Bismarck61.9

Rapid City64.0

Edmond66.7

Walkability

Bellevue58.8

Bismarck65.3

Rapid City57.4

Edmond59.1

Climate

Bellevue59.0

Bismarck57.0

Rapid City51.0

Edmond58.0

Air Quality

Bellevue76.3

Bismarck74.1

Rapid City81.1

Edmond73.9

Entertainment

Bellevue63.4

Bismarck62.9

Rapid City65.0

Edmond68.7

Family Friendly

Bellevue82.3

Bismarck82.1

Rapid City81.1

Edmond80.9

Remote Work

Bellevue67.3

Bismarck69.8

Rapid City74.3

Edmond67.0

Outdoor Lifestyle

Bellevue68.0

Bismarck66.9

Rapid City72.9

Edmond65.7

QUICK FACTS

Details side by side

Category	BellevueNebraska	BismarckNorth Dakota	Rapid CitySouth Dakota	EdmondOklahoma
Best for	Best for people who value a more manageable scale, local routines and lower day-to-day friction.	Best for people who value a more manageable scale, local routines and lower day-to-day friction.	Best for people who value a more manageable scale, local routines and lower day-to-day friction.	Best for people who value a more manageable scale, local routines and lower day-to-day friction.
Everyday vibe	Bellevue has a smaller-city lifestyle with open horizons, practical neighborhoods and a generally lower-friction daily rhythm.	Bismarck has a smaller-city lifestyle with open horizons, practical neighborhoods and a generally lower-friction daily rhythm.	Rapid City has a smaller-city lifestyle with open horizons, practical neighborhoods and a generally lower-friction daily rhythm.	Edmond has a smaller-city lifestyle with open horizons, practical neighborhoods and a generally lower-friction daily rhythm.
Culture & food	Expect the strongest lifestyle character to come from local food, neighborhood events, regional traditions and the city’s own arts and social scene.	Expect the strongest lifestyle character to come from local food, neighborhood events, regional traditions and the city’s own arts and social scene.	Expect the strongest lifestyle character to come from local food, neighborhood events, regional traditions and the city’s own arts and social scene.	Expect the strongest lifestyle character to come from local food, neighborhood events, regional traditions and the city’s own arts and social scene.
Outdoors	Greenways, lakes, open-space recreation and road-trip access are the main nature lens for this baseline profile.	Greenways, lakes, open-space recreation and road-trip access are the main nature lens for this baseline profile.	Greenways, lakes, open-space recreation and road-trip access are the main nature lens for this baseline profile.	Greenways, lakes, open-space recreation and road-trip access are the main nature lens for this baseline profile.
Mobility	Most daily trips are likely to depend on neighborhood choice and driving, with walkable pockets around established centers and mixed-use districts.	Most daily trips are likely to depend on neighborhood choice and driving, with walkable pockets around established centers and mixed-use districts.	Most daily trips are likely to depend on neighborhood choice and driving, with walkable pockets around established centers and mixed-use districts.	Most daily trips are likely to depend on neighborhood choice and driving, with walkable pockets around established centers and mixed-use districts.
Weekend rhythm	Weekends can mix local dining and neighborhood events with greenways, lakes, open-space recreation and road-trip access.	Weekends can mix local dining and neighborhood events with greenways, lakes, open-space recreation and road-trip access.	Weekends can mix local dining and neighborhood events with greenways, lakes, open-space recreation and road-trip access.	Weekends can mix local dining and neighborhood events with greenways, lakes, open-space recreation and road-trip access.
Population	64,863	77,963	80,589	100,479
Research status	Modeled lifestyle baseline	Modeled lifestyle baseline	Modeled lifestyle baseline	Modeled lifestyle baseline