Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boulder, CO
VS
Omaha, NE
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Boulder
Colorado
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,243 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
85 ✓ Safer
Population
106,598
Omaha
Nebraska
11
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.
Boulder, CO
Pros
More college-educated — 76.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
13% less violent crime than Omaha
Households earn $10,041 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 32°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $919,700
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Omaha
Property crime (2733.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Omaha, NE
Pros
Homes cost $709k less ($210,300 vs $919,700)
Rent averages $754/mo less ($1,099 vs $1,853)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.2%)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Boulder
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.5)
Cons
Median income trails Boulder by $10,041/yr
Property crime (3161.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Boulder
Median Income
$10,041
$80,243 vs $70,202/yr
Boulder
Violent Crime
13% lower
322.3 vs 369.0 per 100k
Omaha
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 92.5 vs 107.2 (100 = US avg)
Omaha
Median Home Value
$709k less
$210,300 vs $919,700
Omaha
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boulder, CO | Omaha, NE |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.2⚠ High | 92.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $919,700⚠ High | $210,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,853⚠ High | $1,099 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,243 ✓ Higher | $70,202 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min | 19.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 28.0% ✓ Higher | 11.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 118⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 85 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.6% ✓ Higher | 39.2% |
| High School or Higher | 96.9% ✓ Higher | 90.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boulder Valley School District No. Re2 | OMAHA PUBLIC SCHOOLS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.0°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer | 85.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 33.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 85.2" | 27.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,598 | 489,201 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 35.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.2% | 57.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 11.7% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boulder's cost of living index is 107.2 vs Omaha's 92.5 (US average = 100).
Omaha is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Boulder wins 11 and Omaha wins 11. 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 Boulder to Omaha or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($919,700 vs $210,300 median home), income ($80,243 vs $70,202), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boulder, CO and Omaha, NE are about 489 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.