Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Norwalk, CA
VS
Omaha, NE
🏆 Omaha leads 15 of 23 categories
Norwalk
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$91,259 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
99
Population
101,893
Omaha
Nebraska
15
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.
Norwalk, CA
Pros
Households earn $21,057 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 32°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $593,100
Higher rents — median is $1,860/mo
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Omaha
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Omaha, NE
Pros
Homes cost $383k less ($210,300 vs $593,100)
Rent averages $761/mo less ($1,099 vs $1,860)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Norwalk
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (4.2%)
More college-educated — 39.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Norwalk by $21,057/yr
Property crime (3161.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Norwalk
Median Income
$21,057
$91,259 vs $70,202/yr
Omaha
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 92.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Omaha
Median Home Value
$383k less
$210,300 vs $593,100
Omaha
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Norwalk, CA | Omaha, NE |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 92.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $593,100⚠ High | $210,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,860⚠ High | $1,099 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $91,259 ✓ Higher | $70,202 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.5 min⚠ High | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 11.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 ✓ Safer | 118⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 99 | 97 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.8:1 | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.0% | 39.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.8% | 90.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Norwalk-La Mirada Unified | OMAHA PUBLIC SCHOOLS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F | 85.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.2" ✓ Drier | 33.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 27.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,893 | 489,201 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.6 ✓ Older | 35.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 67.6% ✓ Higher | 57.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Norwalk'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 15 of 23 categories. Norwalk wins 8 and Omaha wins 15. 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 Norwalk to Omaha or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($593,100 vs $210,300 median home), income ($91,259 vs $70,202), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Norwalk, CA and Omaha, NE are about 1,304 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.