Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elizabeth, NJ
VS
Omaha, NE
🏆 Omaha leads 16 of 23 categories
Elizabeth
New Jersey
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,939
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High
Population
135,665
Omaha
Nebraska
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$70,202 ✓ Higher
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.
Elizabeth, NJ
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 40°F vs 32°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $358,400
Higher rents — median is $1,390/mo
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Omaha
Median income trails Omaha by $10,263/yr
Omaha, NE
Pros
Homes cost $148k less ($210,300 vs $358,400)
10% less violent crime than Elizabeth
Rent averages $291/mo less ($1,099 vs $1,390)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Elizabeth
More college-educated — 39.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (4.2%)
Cons
Property crime (3161.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Omaha
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 92.5 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Omaha
Median Income
$10,263
$70,202 vs $59,939/yr
Omaha
Violent Crime
10% lower
369.0 vs 408.7 per 100k
Omaha
Median Home Value
$148k less
$210,300 vs $358,400
Omaha
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elizabeth, NJ | Omaha, NE |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 92.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $358,400⚠ High | $210,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,390⚠ High | $1,099 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,939 | $70,202 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.8% | 11.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 118⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 14.1% | 39.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.3% | 90.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elizabeth Public Schools | OMAHA PUBLIC SCHOOLS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.0°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F ✓ Warmer | 85.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.6" | 33.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 31.5" | 27.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,665 | 489,201 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.7 ✓ Older | 35.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 25.1% | 57.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 24.5% |
| Over 65 | 11.4% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elizabeth's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Omaha's 92.5 (US average = 100).
Omaha is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Omaha leads 16 of 23 categories. Elizabeth wins 7 and Omaha wins 16. 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 Elizabeth to Omaha or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($358,400 vs $210,300 median home), income ($59,939 vs $70,202), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elizabeth, NJ and Omaha, NE are about 1,138 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.