Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Omaha, NE
VS
Palmdale, CA
🏆 Omaha leads 15 of 23 categories
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
Palmdale
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,414 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
145⚠ High
Population
166,895
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Omaha, NE
Pros
Homes cost $187k less ($210,300 vs $397,500)
Rent averages $526/mo less ($1,099 vs $1,625)
33% less violent crime than Palmdale
Commutes run 22 min shorter each way
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Palmdale
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (4.2%)
Cons
Property crime (3161.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Palmdale by $8,212/yr
Palmdale, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 32°F
Households earn $8,212 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $397,500
Higher rents — median is $1,625/mo
Violent crime (551.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Omaha
Key Differences at a Glance
Omaha
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 92.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Omaha
Violent Crime
33% lower
369.0 vs 551.0 per 100k
Omaha
Median Home Value
$187k less
$210,300 vs $397,500
Omaha
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
4.2% vs 7.4% unemployment
Palmdale
Median Income
$8,212
$78,414 vs $70,202/yr
Palmdale
Summer Heat
12.4°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 85.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Omaha, NE | Palmdale, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.5 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $210,300 ✓ Lower | $397,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,099 ✓ Lower | $1,625⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $70,202 | $78,414 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 41.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% ✓ Higher | 7.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer | 123⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 97 ✓ Safer | 145⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 151⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | C- (59) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.2% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 90.4% ✓ Higher | 76.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | OMAHA PUBLIC SCHOOLS | Palmdale Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.3°F | 59.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.2°F | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.1" | 7.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 27.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 489,201 ✓ Larger | 166,895 |
| Median Age | 35.1 ✓ Older | 33.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.9% | 66.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.5% | 29.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.8% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Omaha's cost of living index is 92.5 vs Palmdale's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Omaha is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Omaha leads 15 of 23 categories. Omaha wins 15 and Palmdale wins 8. 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 Palmdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($210,300 vs $397,500 median home), income ($70,202 vs $78,414), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Omaha, NE and Palmdale, CA are about 1,283 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.