Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Omaha, NE
VS
Paterson, NJ
🏆 Omaha leads 18 of 23 categories
Omaha
Nebraska
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$70,202 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
97 ✓ Safer
Population
489,201 ✓ Larger
Paterson
New Jersey
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$52,092
Violent Crime Index
258⚠ High
Population
157,864
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Omaha, NE
Pros
62% less violent crime than Paterson
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.3 pts lower (4.2%)
Homes cost $104k less ($210,300 vs $314,100)
Households earn $18,110 more per year on average
Rent averages $293/mo less ($1,099 vs $1,392)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Paterson
Cons
Property crime (3161.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Paterson, NJ
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 39°F vs 32°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $314,100
Median income trails Omaha by $18,110/yr
Violent crime (978.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,392/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Omaha
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 92.5 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Omaha
Median Income
$18,110
$70,202 vs $52,092/yr
Omaha
Violent Crime
62% lower
369.0 vs 978.6 per 100k
Omaha
Median Home Value
$104k less
$210,300 vs $314,100
Omaha
Unemployment
6.3 pp lower
4.2% vs 10.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Omaha, NE | Paterson, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.5 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $210,300 ✓ Lower | $314,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,099 ✓ Lower | $1,392⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $70,202 ✓ Higher | $52,092 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 23.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% ✓ Higher | 3.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 97 ✓ Safer | 258⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 151⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.2% ✓ Higher | 12.6% |
| High School or Higher | 90.4% ✓ Higher | 76.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | OMAHA PUBLIC SCHOOLS | Paterson Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.3°F | 39.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.2°F | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.1" ✓ Drier | 49.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 27.1" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 489,201 ✓ Larger | 157,864 |
| Median Age | 35.1 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.9% ✓ Higher | 26.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% | 27.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.8% ✓ More | 11.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Omaha's cost of living index is 92.5 vs Paterson's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Omaha is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Omaha leads 18 of 23 categories. Omaha wins 18 and Paterson wins 5. 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 Paterson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($210,300 vs $314,100 median home), income ($70,202 vs $52,092), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Omaha, NE and Paterson, NJ are about 1,137 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.