Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Lauderdale, FL
VS
Omaha, NE
🏆 Omaha leads 11 of 20 categories
Fort Lauderdale
Florida
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$75,376 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
182,673
Omaha
Nebraska
11
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.
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 77°F vs 32°F
Households earn $5,174 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $417,600
Higher rents — median is $1,627/mo
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Omaha
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Omaha, NE
Pros
Homes cost $207k less ($210,300 vs $417,600)
Rent averages $528/mo less ($1,099 vs $1,627)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Fort Lauderdale
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.2%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.5)
Cons
Property crime (3161.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Fort Lauderdale by $5,174/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Lauderdale
Median Income
$5,174
$75,376 vs $70,202/yr
Fort Lauderdale
Summer Heat
5.3°F warmer
July avg high 90.5°F vs 85.2°F
Omaha
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 92.5 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Omaha
Median Home Value
$207k less
$210,300 vs $417,600
Omaha
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Lauderdale, FL | Omaha, NE |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 92.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $417,600⚠ High | $210,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,627⚠ High | $1,099 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $75,376 ✓ Higher | $70,202 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.3 min | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.0% ✓ Higher | 11.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 118⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 97 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 151⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.3% ✓ Higher | 39.2% |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% | 90.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWARD | OMAHA PUBLIC SCHOOLS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.6°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 85.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 63.0" | 33.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 27.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 182,673 | 489,201 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 43.2 ✓ Older | 35.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.2% | 57.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.3% ✓ More | 13.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Lauderdale's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Omaha's 92.5 (US average = 100).
Omaha is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Omaha leads 11 of 20 categories. Fort Lauderdale wins 9 and Omaha wins 11. 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 Fort Lauderdale to Omaha or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($417,600 vs $210,300 median home), income ($75,376 vs $70,202), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Lauderdale, FL and Omaha, NE are about 1,384 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.