Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Paso, TX
VS
Omaha, NE
🏆 El Paso leads 14 of 23 categories
El Paso
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,710
Violent Crime Index
73 ✓ Safer
Population
677,181 ✓ Larger
Omaha
Nebraska
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.5
Median Household Income
$70,202 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
97
Population
489,201
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
El Paso, TX
Pros
25% less violent crime than Omaha
Homes cost $51k less ($159,300 vs $210,300)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 32°F
Rent averages $123/mo less ($976 vs $1,099)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.2)
Smaller class sizes — 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Omaha by $14,492/yr
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 4.2%)
Omaha, NE
Pros
Households earn $14,492 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (4.2%)
More college-educated — 39.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.5)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 96°F
Cons
Property crime (3161.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 2% higher than El Paso
Key Differences at a Glance
El Paso
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 90.2 vs 92.5 (100 = US avg)
El Paso
Violent Crime
25% lower
278.4 vs 369.0 per 100k
El Paso
Median Home Value
$51k less
$159,300 vs $210,300
El Paso
Summer Heat
10.6°F warmer
July avg high 95.8°F vs 85.2°F
Omaha
Median Income
$14,492
$70,202 vs $55,710/yr
Omaha
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
4.2% vs 6.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Paso, TX | Omaha, NE |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.2 ✓ Cheaper | 92.5 |
| Median Home Value | $159,300 ✓ Lower | $210,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $976 ✓ Lower | $1,099 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $55,710 | $70,202 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.7 min | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 11.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 72 ✓ Safer | 118⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 73 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.1% | 39.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.5% | 90.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | EL PASO ISD | OMAHA PUBLIC SCHOOLS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.6°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.8°F ✓ Warmer | 85.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 33.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.8" ✓ Less | 27.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 677,181 ✓ Larger | 489,201 |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 35.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 57.9% |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 24.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Paso's cost of living index is 90.2 vs Omaha's 92.5 (US average = 100).
El Paso is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, El Paso leads 14 of 23 categories. El Paso 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 El Paso to Omaha or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($159,300 vs $210,300 median home), income ($55,710 vs $70,202), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Paso, TX and Omaha, NE are about 868 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.