Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elk Grove, CA
VS
Omaha, NE
🏆 Elk Grove leads 14 of 23 categories
Elk Grove
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$115,864 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
50 ✓ Safer
Population
176,105
Omaha
Nebraska
9
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.
Elk Grove, CA
Pros
Households earn $45,662 more per year on average
49% less violent crime than Omaha
Violent crime is well below the national average (189.9 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 32°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $560,500
Higher rents — median is $2,076/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Omaha
Higher unemployment (6.4% vs 4.2%)
Omaha, NE
Pros
Homes cost $350k less ($210,300 vs $560,500)
Rent averages $977/mo less ($1,099 vs $2,076)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (4.2%)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Elk Grove
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.5)
Cons
Median income trails Elk Grove by $45,662/yr
Property crime (3161.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Elk Grove
Median Income
$45,662
$115,864 vs $70,202/yr
Elk Grove
Violent Crime
49% lower
189.9 vs 369.0 per 100k
Elk Grove
Summer Heat
7.4°F warmer
July avg high 92.6°F vs 85.2°F
Omaha
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 92.5 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Omaha
Median Home Value
$350k less
$210,300 vs $560,500
Omaha
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
4.2% vs 6.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elk Grove, CA | Omaha, NE |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 92.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $560,500⚠ High | $210,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,076⚠ High | $1,099 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,864 ✓ Higher | $70,202 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% ✓ Higher | 11.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 118⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 50 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% | 39.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% ✓ Higher | 90.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elk Grove Unified | OMAHA PUBLIC SCHOOLS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.0°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer | 85.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.1" ✓ Drier | 33.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 27.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,105 | 489,201 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.7 ✓ Older | 35.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 57.9% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% ✓ More | 24.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.3% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elk Grove's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Omaha's 92.5 (US average = 100).
Omaha is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Elk Grove leads 14 of 23 categories. Elk Grove 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 Elk Grove to Omaha or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($560,500 vs $210,300 median home), income ($115,864 vs $70,202), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elk Grove, CA and Omaha, NE are about 1,353 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.