Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Denver, CO
VS
Omaha, NE
🏆 Omaha leads 13 of 23 categories
Denver
Colorado
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,853 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
261⚠ High
Population
710,800 ✓ Larger
Omaha
Nebraska
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$70,202
Violent Crime Index
97 ✓ Safer
Population
489,201
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Denver, CO
Pros
Households earn $15,651 more per year on average
More college-educated — 54.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 32°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $540,400
Higher rents — median is $1,665/mo
Violent crime (993.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Omaha
Omaha, NE
Pros
Homes cost $330k less ($210,300 vs $540,400)
63% less violent crime than Denver
Rent averages $566/mo less ($1,099 vs $1,665)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Denver
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (4.2%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Denver by $15,651/yr
Property crime (3161.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Denver
Median Income
$15,651
$85,853 vs $70,202/yr
Denver
Summer Heat
5.0°F warmer
July avg high 90.2°F vs 85.2°F
Omaha
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 92.5 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Omaha
Violent Crime
63% lower
369.0 vs 993.0 per 100k
Omaha
Median Home Value
$330k less
$210,300 vs $540,400
Omaha
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
4.2% vs 4.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Denver, CO | Omaha, NE |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 92.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $540,400⚠ High | $210,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High | $1,099 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,853 ✓ Higher | $70,202 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.3 min | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.9% ✓ Higher | 11.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 247⚠ High | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 261⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 227⚠ 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 | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 54.2% ✓ Higher | 39.2% |
| High School or Higher | 90.5% ✓ Higher | 90.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C | OMAHA PUBLIC SCHOOLS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F ✓ Warmer | 85.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.4" ✓ Drier | 33.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 27.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 710,800 ✓ Larger | 489,201 |
| Median Age | 34.9 | 35.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 57.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Denver's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Omaha's 92.5 (US average = 100).
Omaha is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Omaha leads 13 of 23 categories. Denver 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 Denver to Omaha or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($540,400 vs $210,300 median home), income ($85,853 vs $70,202), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Denver, CO and Omaha, NE are about 475 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.