Vibrant nightlife is the top draw for Benson, a thriving neighborhood a few miles northwest of Downtown Omaha. The Benson Commercial Historic District on Maple Street is on the National Register, but there’s nothing old-fashioned about the vibe. It’s a buzzing enclave of trendy shops, restaurants and bars, and people buy here so they can be near the action.
“You can walk to the nightlife there, and that is the big attraction for Benson,” says Milt Schneider, associate broker with Nebraska Realty, who’s been selling in the area for over 10 years. “It’s very busy on a Friday or Saturday night, very energetic. Even in the winter, there’s a fair amount of activity.” The Waiting Room Lounge hosts live acts — some local — in a funky space that used to be a car dealership, and there are plenty of places to hang out over drinks before or after the show. With classic arcade games like Donkey Kong, Centipede and Joust, Beercade serves up a hearty dose of nostalgia along with 50-plus brews on tap. Tasting menus and wine pairings make Au Courant Regional Kitchen a good choice for an elegant date night. Other options include Yoshitomo for sushi and sake, Benson Brewery for happy hour and Virtuoso Pizzeria for New York-style pies. In the morning, you can head to Hardy Coffee Co. for creative pick-me-ups like iced sweet potato lattes and hot s’mores café au lait.
A lot of Benson’s houses were built in the early 1900s. “Most are in good condition,” Schneider says. “Naturally, when you’re looking at homes that old, they can come to you in various conditions, but we don’t have anything really dilapidated in there.” There are some midcentury ranch-style and Cape Cod homes in the mix as well. Most streets are lined with shady trees and narrow sidewalks, but there aren’t as many sidewalks in the southwest section of the neighborhood. Properties are small and low-maintenance, with tiny patches of front lawn. Some places have paved driveways or garages, but a lot of people park on the street. Also, be aware that the boisterous noise from Maple Street can bleed over to the surrounding blocks, especially on weekend nights.
When Benson properties go on the market, they sell about twice as fast as the national average. The median sale price of $210,000 is nearly half the median for Dundee, another popular neighborhood nearby. “Benson is one of those neighborhoods where primarily my younger buyers inquire about it, because it’s affordable, and it has that lifestyle associated with it — a more hip lifestyle, a more entertaining lifestyle,” Schneider says. Here's a look at what houses are going for in Benson:
The Benson Creative District was established in the early 2020s, and art galleries and rehearsal spaces are peppered throughout Maple Street. Benson First Fridays (BFF) bring visual art, live performances and seasonal flair to the district year-round. The Benson Days summer festival didn’t happen in 2025, but they’re hoping to bring it back for 2026.
Even though the community itself is highly walkable, you’ll need a car if you want to get outside the neighborhood. The drive to Downtown Omaha typically takes 15 to 20 minutes, depending on traffic, and Maple Street is the best starting point. “For me, that is the only gripe — that it’s in the center of Omaha, so to get to a freeway, you’ve got to navigate out of there,” Schneider says, adding, “It has never been a concern to any of my clients.” Metro buses stop in the neighborhood if you’d rather use public transportation. Also, street parking can be scarce, especially on weekend nights, which is why a lot of people who live there prefer to walk to the restaurants and bars on Maple.
Benson Park is an easy walk from most houses north of Maple Street. The park spans more than 200 acres, with amenities that include:
Most students attend Omaha Public Schools. They’ll be guaranteed a spot at their neighborhood school, but they can apply to any other school in the district, with spots granted based on available space. Monroe Middle School and Benson High School are right outside the neighborhood, next to Gallagher Park.
Charlie Sutton
BHHS Ambassador Real Estate
(531) 233-2613
104 Total Sales
1 in Benson
$389,000 Price
Vickie Jenkins
BHHS Ambassador Real Estate
(712) 217-2851
185 Total Sales
3 in Benson
$201K - $210K Price Range
Kaylene Heck
Realty ONE Group Sterling
(531) 541-6366
60 Total Sales
1 in Benson
$272,000 Price
Ashley Jantz
Coldwell Banker NHS Real Estate
(531) 541-5979
109 Total Sales
1 in Benson
$415,000 Price
Sheila Ost
BHHS Ambassador Real Estate
(531) 541-5929
110 Total Sales
1 in Benson
$350,000 Price
Ashlee O'Malley
BHHS Ambassador Real Estate
(402) 509-1877
152 Total Sales
3 in Benson
$210K - $256K Price Range
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Benson | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 4 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 4 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 4 | 4 |
| Robbery | 4 | 4 |
| Burglary | 4 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 4 | 4 |
| Larceny | 4 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 4 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
On average, homes in Benson, Omaha sell after 20 days on the market compared to the national average of 56 days. The median sale price for homes in Benson, Omaha over the last 12 months is $210,000, down 2% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
|
Median List Price
$220,000
|
Median Sale Price
$210,000
|
|
Median Single Family Sale Price
$215,000
|
Median Townhouse Sale Price
$420,000
|
|
Median 2 Bedroom Sale Price
$185,000
|
Median Change From 1st List Price
0%
|
|
Last 12 months Home Sales
206
|
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
-2%
|
|
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$163
|
|
|
Number of Homes
4,713
|
Number of Homes for Sale
38
|
|
Median Year Built
1948
|
Months of Supply
2.20
|
|
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,303
Significantly below the national average
1,933
|
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
1,785
|
|
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
1,016
|
Average 1 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
670
|
|
Average Studio Size Sq Ft
528
|
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
6,098
|
$1,050 - $1,650 per month
$1,450 per month
|
Number of Homes for Rent
14
|
Median Rent
$1,522
|
|
Median Single Family Home Rent
$1,595
|
Median 4 Bedroom Single Family Home Rent
$1,948
|
|
Median Townhouse Rent
$1,630
|
Median 3 Bedroom Townhouse Rent
$1,630
|
|
Median Condo Rent
$825
|
Median 2 Bedroom Condo Rent
$988
|
|
Total Population
12,595
|
Median Age
37
|
|
Population Density
11 ppl/acre
|
Population under 18
25.1%
On par with the national average
23.8%
|
|
Population over 65
15.1%
On par with the national average
19.1%
|
|
|
Median Household Income
$68,733
Below the national average
$79,597
|
Average Household Income
$92,421
|
|
High School Graduates
93.1%
|
College Graduates
39.4%
Above the national average
34.1%
|
|
Advanced Degrees
10.4%
|
% Population in Labor Force
75%
Above the national average
64.9%
|
|
Annual Precipitation
32''
|
Average Winter Low Temperature
16°F
|
|
Average Summer High Temperature
88°F
|
Annual Snowfall
23''
|
Bikeability
Walkability
Transit
Local Logic measures the walkability, access to public transit and bikeability of any address. CAP Index provides objective, accurate, and consistent data to help measure, compare, and mitigate crime risks.
Relatively affordable homes in a convenient location northwest of Downtown Omaha
Tudor-style homes from the 1930s are hot in west Omaha
Small Omaha neighborhood blocks away from the Benson Business District
Leafy neighborhood with distinctive early 20th-century homes near Downtown Omaha
Early 1900s homes in a walkable Omaha neighborhood close to UNMC and Midtown
Stately and elegant homes close to UNO and Elmwood Park in central Omaha
