Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Durham, NC
VS
Omaha, NE
🏆 Omaha leads 14 of 23 categories
Durham
North Carolina
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6
Median Household Income
$74,710 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
284,094
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.
Durham, NC
Pros
More college-educated — 53.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 32°F
Households earn $4,508 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 15.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $316,600
Violent crime (619.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3799.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Omaha
Omaha, NE
Pros
Homes cost $106k less ($210,300 vs $316,600)
40% less violent crime than Durham
Rent averages $197/mo less ($1,099 vs $1,296)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.5)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Durham
Cons
Property crime (3161.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Durham by $4,508/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Durham
Median Income
$4,508
$74,710 vs $70,202/yr
Omaha
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 92.5 vs 96.6 (100 = US avg)
Omaha
Violent Crime
40% lower
369.0 vs 619.2 per 100k
Omaha
Median Home Value
$106k less
$210,300 vs $316,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Durham, NC | Omaha, NE |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 | 92.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $316,600⚠ High | $210,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,296 | $1,099 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,710 ✓ Higher | $70,202 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.9% ✓ Higher | 11.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 151⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.8% ✓ Higher | 39.2% |
| High School or Higher | 91.3% ✓ Higher | 90.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Durham Public Schools | OMAHA PUBLIC SCHOOLS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.9°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.0°F ✓ Warmer | 85.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.0" | 33.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.2" ✓ Less | 27.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 284,094 | 489,201 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 35.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.0% | 57.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.7% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Durham's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Omaha's 92.5 (US average = 100).
Omaha is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Omaha leads 14 of 23 categories. Durham 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 Durham to Omaha or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($316,600 vs $210,300 median home), income ($74,710 vs $70,202), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Durham, NC and Omaha, NE are about 993 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.