Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Ann Arbor, MI
VS
Omaha, NE
🏆 Omaha leads 13 of 23 categories
Ann Arbor
Michigan
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$78,546 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
80 ✓ Safer
Population
122,216
Omaha
Nebraska
13
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.
Ann Arbor, MI
Pros
18% less violent crime than Omaha
More college-educated — 77.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (3.7%)
Households earn $8,344 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $416,500
Higher rents — median is $1,472/mo
Snowy winters — about 59" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Omaha
Omaha, NE
Pros
Homes cost $206k less ($210,300 vs $416,500)
Rent averages $373/mo less ($1,099 vs $1,472)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.5)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Ann Arbor
Cons
Property crime (3161.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Ann Arbor by $8,344/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Ann Arbor
Median Income
$8,344
$78,546 vs $70,202/yr
Ann Arbor
Violent Crime
18% lower
302.5 vs 369.0 per 100k
Ann Arbor
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
3.7% vs 4.2% unemployment
Omaha
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 92.5 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Omaha
Median Home Value
$206k less
$210,300 vs $416,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Ann Arbor, MI | Omaha, NE |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 92.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $416,500⚠ High | $210,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,472⚠ High | $1,099 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,546 ✓ Higher | $70,202 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 4.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.6 min | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 23.2% ✓ Higher | 11.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 80 ✓ Safer | 118⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 82 ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (119) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 77.5% ✓ Higher | 39.2% |
| High School or Higher | 97.8% ✓ Higher | 90.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Ann Arbor Public Schools | OMAHA PUBLIC SCHOOLS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.7°F | 32.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 85.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" | 33.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.3" | 27.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 122,216 | 489,201 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 27.4 | 35.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.0% | 57.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Ann Arbor's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Omaha's 92.5 (US average = 100).
Omaha is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Omaha leads 13 of 23 categories. Ann Arbor wins 10 and Omaha wins 13. 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 Ann Arbor to Omaha or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($416,500 vs $210,300 median home), income ($78,546 vs $70,202), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Ann Arbor, MI and Omaha, NE are about 638 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.