Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lancaster, CA
VS
Omaha, NE
🏆 Omaha leads 16 of 23 categories
Lancaster
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,367 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
171,465
Omaha
Nebraska
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$70,202
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.
Lancaster, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 32°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $368,800
Higher rents — median is $1,576/mo
Violent crime (834.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Omaha
Omaha, NE
Pros
Homes cost $159k less ($210,300 vs $368,800)
56% less violent crime than Lancaster
Rent averages $477/mo less ($1,099 vs $1,576)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (4.2%)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Lancaster
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Cons
Property crime (3161.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Lancaster
Median Income
$1,165
$71,367 vs $70,202/yr
Lancaster
Summer Heat
12.4°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 85.2°F
Omaha
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 92.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Omaha
Violent Crime
56% lower
369.0 vs 834.7 per 100k
Omaha
Median Home Value
$159k less
$210,300 vs $368,800
Omaha
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
4.2% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lancaster, CA | Omaha, NE |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 92.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $368,800⚠ High | $210,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High | $1,099 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,367 ✓ Higher | $70,202 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.9 min⚠ High | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.6% | 11.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (63) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.6:1 | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.4% | 39.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.2% | 90.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lancaster Elementary | OMAHA PUBLIC SCHOOLS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.7°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer | 85.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 6.8" ✓ Drier | 33.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 27.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 171,465 | 489,201 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.6 | 35.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.1% | 57.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.8% ✓ More | 24.5% |
| Over 65 | 11.2% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lancaster's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Omaha's 92.5 (US average = 100).
Omaha is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Omaha leads 16 of 23 categories. Lancaster 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 Lancaster to Omaha or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($368,800 vs $210,300 median home), income ($71,367 vs $70,202), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lancaster, CA and Omaha, NE are about 1,283 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.