Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Omaha, NE
VS
Portsmouth, VA
🏆 Omaha leads 17 of 23 categories
Omaha
Nebraska
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$70,202 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
97 ✓ Safer
Population
489,201 ✓ Larger
Portsmouth
Virginia
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$57,154
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High
Population
97,384
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Omaha, NE
Pros
51% less violent crime than Portsmouth
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (4.2%)
Households earn $13,048 more per year on average
More college-educated — 39.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $126/mo less ($1,099 vs $1,225)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Property crime (3161.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Portsmouth, VA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 32°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (752.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Omaha by $13,048/yr
Property crime (3860.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 4.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Omaha
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 92.5 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Omaha
Median Income
$13,048
$70,202 vs $57,154/yr
Omaha
Violent Crime
51% lower
369.0 vs 752.4 per 100k
Omaha
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
4.2% vs 6.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Omaha, NE | Portsmouth, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.5 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $210,300 ✓ Lower | $213,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,099 ✓ Lower | $1,225 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $70,202 ✓ Higher | $57,154 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 23.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer | 192⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 97 ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 151⚠ High ✓ Safer | 184⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.2% ✓ Higher | 21.2% |
| High School or Higher | 90.4% ✓ Higher | 89.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | OMAHA PUBLIC SCHOOLS | Portsmouth City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.3°F | 48.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.2°F | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.1" ✓ Drier | 50.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 27.1" | 3.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 489,201 ✓ Larger | 97,384 |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.9% ✓ Higher | 56.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 23.1% |
| Over 65 | 13.8% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Omaha's cost of living index is 92.5 vs Portsmouth's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Omaha is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Omaha leads 17 of 23 categories. Omaha wins 17 and Portsmouth wins 6. 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 Portsmouth or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($210,300 vs $213,300 median home), income ($70,202 vs $57,154), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Omaha, NE and Portsmouth, VA are about 1,097 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.