Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Berkeley, CA
VS
Omaha, NE
🏆 Omaha leads 14 of 23 categories
Berkeley
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,716 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
168⚠ High
Population
121,385
Omaha
Nebraska
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$70,202
Violent Crime Index
97 ✓ Safer
Population
489,201 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Berkeley, CA
Pros
Households earn $34,514 more per year on average
More college-educated — 73.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 32°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 74°F vs 85°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,280,300
Higher rents — median is $2,067/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than Omaha
Violent crime (638.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Omaha, NE
Pros
Homes cost $1070k less ($210,300 vs $1,280,300)
Rent averages $968/mo less ($1,099 vs $2,067)
42% less violent crime than Berkeley
26% cheaper overall cost of living than Berkeley
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.2%)
Cons
Median income trails Berkeley by $34,514/yr
Property crime (3161.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Berkeley
Median Income
$34,514
$104,716 vs $70,202/yr
Omaha
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 92.5 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Omaha
Violent Crime
42% lower
369.0 vs 638.8 per 100k
Omaha
Median Home Value
$1070k less
$210,300 vs $1,280,300
Omaha
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.5% unemployment
Omaha
Summer Heat
11.0°F warmer
July avg high 85.2°F vs 74.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Berkeley, CA | Omaha, NE |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 92.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,280,300⚠ High | $210,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,067⚠ High | $1,099 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,716 ✓ Higher | $70,202 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.4 min⚠ High | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 11.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 200⚠ High | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 168⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 249⚠ High | 151⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.1:1 | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 39.2% |
| High School or Higher | 96.1% ✓ Higher | 90.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Berkeley Unified | OMAHA PUBLIC SCHOOLS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.9°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.2°F | 85.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 26.1" ✓ Drier | 33.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 27.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,385 | 489,201 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.5 | 35.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.3% | 57.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.9% ✓ More | 13.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Berkeley's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Omaha's 92.5 (US average = 100).
Omaha is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Omaha leads 14 of 23 categories. Berkeley wins 9 and Omaha wins 14. 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 Berkeley to Omaha or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,280,300 vs $210,300 median home), income ($104,716 vs $70,202), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Berkeley, CA and Omaha, NE are about 1,412 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.