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Living in
Omaha.
About
Life in Omaha
Living in Omaha means settling into a genuinely affordable Midwest city where you can actually build a life—median household income sits around $72,708 with a median home value of $245,500 and rent averaging $1,190 a month, which gives you real purchasing power compared to most U.S. metros. The job market is legitimately solid: four Fortune 500 companies call Omaha home (Berkshire Hathaway, Kiewit, Mutual of Omaha, Union Pacific), along with major architecture and engineering firms, and unemployment hovers around 3.4%, so you're not moving to a struggling economy. What locals actually stay for, though, is the neighborhood diversity and genuine community feel: you can choose between revitalized downtown areas like the Old Market, established West Omaha suburbs, or historically rich neighborhoods in North and South Omaha, each with its own character and vibe.
Omaha at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
35.3 yrs
Poverty Rate
13.5%
Foreign-Born
11.3%
Broadband Internet
91.5%
of households
Population Growth
-0.6%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics11.3% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Omaha: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Omaha, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (31.5%), and 11.6% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
24.2%
of residents
65 and Older
14.5%
of residents
Households with Kids
28.8%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
35.3%
of households
Married Couples
40.4%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.37
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 11% above NE average
Rent, home values, and income in Omaha
In Omaha, rent runs 11% above the NE average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
47.8%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
23.9%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
91.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,128
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
57.4%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1973
median year built
Vacant Homes
5.3%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $294,607 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.4 pts above NE average
Unemployment in Omaha and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Omaha is 0.4 percentage points higher than the NE average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Omaha Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA metro area
Commute19.6 min avg
How Omaha residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Omaha, most residents drive alone to work (72%), and 83% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 4 mi
Eppley Airfield (OMA)
Medium hub2.6M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 6% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Omaha runs 6% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
349.5
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,794.7
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Omaha Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 31 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
95.9 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Douglas County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Douglas County, which includes Omaha, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 31 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 31 | Thunderstorm Wind | $3.9M |
| 2024 | 24 | Thunderstorm Wind | $35.6M |
| 2023 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2022 | 15 | Hail | None reported |
| 2021 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2020 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 15 | Heavy Snow | $950,000 |
| 2018 | 21 | Winter Weather | $3,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Douglas County, county-wide
Air Quality42 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Douglas County, which includes Omaha, is typically good — 259 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
42
Good Days
259
per year
Moderate Days
104
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Douglas County, county-wide
Climate86°F summers, 18°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Omaha has warm summers (avg high 86°F) and very cold winters (avg low 18°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
64°/41°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
86°/66°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
65°/43°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
37°/18°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
33.0"
Annual Snowfall
27.1"
Hot Days/Year
15
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
131
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
97
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 34°F | 15°F | 0.75" |
| Feb | 39°F | 19°F | 0.95" |
| Mar | 52°F | 30°F | 1.79" |
| Apr | 64°F | 41°F | 3.17" |
| May | 75°F | 53°F | 4.66" |
| Jun | 84°F | 63°F | 4.44" |
| Jul | 88°F | 68°F | 3.55" |
| Aug | 86°F | 66°F | 4.60" |
| Sep | 79°F | 56°F | 2.96" |
| Oct | 66°F | 43°F | 2.32" |
| Nov | 50°F | 30°F | 1.45" |
| Dec | 38°F | 20°F | 1.22" |
Healthcare11 hospitals, avg 3.8/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Omaha
Omaha has 11 hospitals, averaging 3.8 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
11
within city limits
Uninsured
9.3%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.8 / 5
The Nebraska Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
The Nebraska Methodist Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
CHI Health Bergan Mercy
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Omaha VA Medical Center (va Nebraska Western Iowa Healthcare System)
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Boys Town National Research Hospital
Childrens · 4.1 mi away · Boys Town
CHI Health Midlands
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 8.6 mi away · Papillion
Bellevue Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 10.3 mi away · Bellevue
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education16.5:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Omaha
Omaha's student/teacher ratio is 16.5:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 40.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
170
within city limits
Private Schools
43
within city limits
College Degree Rate
40.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.5:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Omaha
University of Nebraska at Omaha
Public · 4-year · 11,488 students · in-state tuition $9,232 · 52% graduate · median earnings $59,749 (10 yrs after entry)
Metropolitan Community College Area
Public · 2-year · 8,775 students · in-state tuition $3,420 · 21% graduate · median earnings $46,353 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 4,348 students · in-state tuition $50,960 · 79% graduate · median earnings $80,642 (10 yrs after entry)
University of Nebraska Medical Center
Public · 4-year · 938 students · 94% graduate · median earnings $81,009 (10 yrs after entry)
Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 781 students · in-state tuition $18,071 · 75% graduate · median earnings $70,914 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 622 students · in-state tuition $16,584 · 75% graduate · median earnings $70,928 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 445 students · in-state tuition $27,294 · 66% graduate · median earnings $64,178 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 10,220 students · in-state tuition $10,053 · 54% graduate · median earnings $65,909 (10 yrs after entry)
Iowa Western Community College
13.3 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 2,916 students · in-state tuition $7,050 · 33% graduate · median earnings $46,335 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail, 7 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Omaha
Omaha has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail (7 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
7 mi awayHomestead National Historical Park
National Historical Park
79 mi awayPublic Libraries in Omaha
Library Administrative Building (Lab)
3020 S 84 St, Omaha
A V Sorensen Branch Library
4808 Cass Street, Omaha
Benson Branch Library
6015 Binney Street, Omaha
Bess Johnson Elkhorn Branch Library
2100 Reading Plaza, Omaha
Charles B Washington Branch Library
2868 Ames Avenue, Omaha
Downtown Branch
1401 Jones Street, Omaha
Florence Branch Library
2920 Bondesson Street, Omaha
Genealogy Room
3020 S 84 St, Omaha
Millard Branch Library
13214 Westwood Lane, Omaha
Milton R Abrahams Branch Library
5111 North 90th Street, Omaha
South Omaha Library
2808 Q Street, Omaha
W Clarke Swanson Branch Library
9101 West Dodge Road, Omaha
Compare Omaha
Popular side-by-side matchups
Cities Near Omaha
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Omaha?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Omaha FAQ
Is Omaha, Nebraska affordable?⌄
Omaha's median rent is $1,187/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $73,201/year. Median home value is $245,500.
Is Omaha, Nebraska safe?⌄
Omaha's violent crime rate was 350 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is close to the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2795 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Omaha, Nebraska?⌄
Omaha has an unemployment rate of 3.4%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Omaha, Nebraska?⌄
The cost of living in Omaha is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,187/month and median household income is $73,201/year. The median home value is $245,500. About 48% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Omaha, Nebraska?⌄
The average commute in Omaha is 20 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from