Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Omaha, NE
VS
Ontario, CA
🏆 Omaha leads 14 of 23 categories
Omaha
Nebraska
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$70,202
Violent Crime Index
97
Population
489,201 ✓ Larger
Ontario
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,070 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
176,326
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Omaha, NE
Pros
Homes cost $303k less ($210,300 vs $513,000)
Rent averages $727/mo less ($1,099 vs $1,826)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (4.2%)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Ontario
More college-educated — 39.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Property crime (3161.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Ontario by $7,868/yr
Ontario, CA
Pros
26% less violent crime than Omaha
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 32°F
Households earn $7,868 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $513,000
Higher rents — median is $1,826/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Omaha
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 4.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Omaha
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 92.5 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Omaha
Median Home Value
$303k less
$210,300 vs $513,000
Omaha
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.8% unemployment
Ontario
Median Income
$7,868
$78,070 vs $70,202/yr
Ontario
Violent Crime
26% lower
272.2 vs 369.0 per 100k
Ontario
Summer Heat
8.6°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 85.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Omaha, NE | Ontario, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.5 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $210,300 ✓ Lower | $513,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,099 ✓ Lower | $1,826⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $70,202 | $78,070 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 118⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 97 | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 151⚠ High | 87 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | C- (65) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.2% ✓ Higher | 19.2% |
| High School or Higher | 90.4% ✓ Higher | 76.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | OMAHA PUBLIC SCHOOLS | Ontario-Montclair |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.3°F | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.2°F | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.1" | 11.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 27.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 489,201 ✓ Larger | 176,326 |
| Median Age | 35.1 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.9% ✓ Higher | 55.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% | 24.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.8% ✓ More | 10.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Omaha's cost of living index is 92.5 vs Ontario's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Omaha is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Omaha leads 14 of 23 categories. Omaha wins 14 and Ontario 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 Omaha to Ontario or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($210,300 vs $513,000 median home), income ($70,202 vs $78,070), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Omaha, NE and Ontario, CA are about 1,276 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.