Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, VA
VS
Omaha, NE
🏆 Arlington leads 14 of 23 categories
Arlington
Virginia
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$137,387 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
235,845
Omaha
Nebraska
9
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.
Arlington, VA
Pros
Households earn $67,185 more per year on average
31% less violent crime than Omaha
More college-educated — 76.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (2.8%)
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 32°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $833,300
Higher rents — median is $2,227/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Omaha
Longer commutes — 27.7 min average each way
Omaha, NE
Pros
Homes cost $623k less ($210,300 vs $833,300)
Rent averages $1128/mo less ($1,099 vs $2,227)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Arlington
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.5)
Cons
Median income trails Arlington by $67,185/yr
Property crime (3161.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.2% vs 2.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Median Income
$67,185
$137,387 vs $70,202/yr
Arlington
Violent Crime
31% lower
254.4 vs 369.0 per 100k
Arlington
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
2.8% vs 4.2% unemployment
Arlington
Summer Heat
4.4°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 85.2°F
Omaha
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 92.5 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Omaha
Median Home Value
$623k less
$210,300 vs $833,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, VA | Omaha, NE |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 92.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $833,300⚠ High | $210,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,227⚠ High | $1,099 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $137,387 ✓ Higher | $70,202 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 4.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.7 min⚠ High | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 27.0% ✓ Higher | 11.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 118⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.8% ✓ Higher | 39.2% |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% ✓ Higher | 90.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Arlington County Public Schools | OMAHA PUBLIC SCHOOLS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 85.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.2" | 33.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" ✓ Less | 27.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 235,845 | 489,201 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.3 ✓ Older | 35.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.2% | 57.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Omaha's 92.5 (US average = 100).
Omaha is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arlington leads 14 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 14 and Omaha wins 9. 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 Arlington to Omaha or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($833,300 vs $210,300 median home), income ($137,387 vs $70,202), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, VA and Omaha, NE are about 1,013 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.