Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Germantown, MD
VS
Omaha, NE
🏆 Omaha leads 12 of 20 categories
Germantown
Maryland
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,268 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
90,210
Omaha
Nebraska
12
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.
Germantown, MD
Pros
Households earn $39,066 more per year on average
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 39°F vs 32°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $393,700
Higher rents — median is $1,908/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Omaha
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 4.2%)
Omaha, NE
Pros
Homes cost $183k less ($210,300 vs $393,700)
Rent averages $809/mo less ($1,099 vs $1,908)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Germantown
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.2%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.5)
Cons
Median income trails Germantown by $39,066/yr
Property crime (3161.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Germantown
Median Income
$39,066
$109,268 vs $70,202/yr
Omaha
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 92.5 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Omaha
Median Home Value
$183k less
$210,300 vs $393,700
Omaha
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Germantown, MD | Omaha, NE |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 92.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $393,700⚠ High | $210,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,908⚠ High | $1,099 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $109,268 ✓ Higher | $70,202 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.6 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 | — | 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 | A- (116) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.9% ✓ Higher | 39.2% |
| High School or Higher | 89.5% | 90.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County Public Schools | OMAHA PUBLIC SCHOOLS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.3°F | 85.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.7" | 33.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.6" | 27.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 90,210 | 489,201 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 ✓ Older | 35.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.9% ✓ Higher | 57.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Germantown's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Omaha's 92.5 (US average = 100).
Omaha is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Omaha leads 12 of 20 categories. Germantown wins 8 and Omaha wins 12. 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 Germantown to Omaha or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($393,700 vs $210,300 median home), income ($109,268 vs $70,202), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Germantown, MD and Omaha, NE are about 1,000 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.