Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Omaha, NE
VS
Reno, NV
🏆 Omaha leads 15 of 22 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
Reno
Nevada
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,073 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High
Population
265,196
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Omaha, NE
Pros
Homes cost $252k less ($210,300 vs $462,100)
30% less violent crime than Reno
Rent averages $261/mo less ($1,099 vs $1,360)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (4.2%)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Reno
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.5)
Cons
Property crime (3161.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Reno by $2,871/yr
Reno, NV
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 46°F vs 32°F
Households earn $2,871 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $462,100
Violent crime (529.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,360/mo
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Omaha
Key Differences at a Glance
Omaha
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 92.5 vs 102.8 (100 = US avg)
Omaha
Violent Crime
30% lower
369.0 vs 529.6 per 100k
Omaha
Median Home Value
$252k less
$210,300 vs $462,100
Omaha
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.0% unemployment
Reno
Median Income
$2,871
$73,073 vs $70,202/yr
Reno
Summer Heat
7.5°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 85.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Omaha, NE | Reno, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.5 ✓ Cheaper | 102.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $210,300 ✓ Lower | $462,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,099 ✓ Lower | $1,360⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $70,202 | $73,073 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 20.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% ✓ Higher | 9.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 97 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 151⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.2% ✓ Higher | 35.3% |
| High School or Higher | 90.4% ✓ Higher | 89.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | OMAHA PUBLIC SCHOOLS | Washoe County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.3°F | 45.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.2°F | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.1" | 9.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 27.1" ✓ Less | 33.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 489,201 ✓ Larger | 265,196 |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.9% ✓ Higher | 48.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 19.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.8% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Omaha's cost of living index is 92.5 vs Reno's 102.8 (US average = 100).
Omaha is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Omaha leads 15 of 22 categories. Omaha wins 15 and Reno wins 7. 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 Reno or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($210,300 vs $462,100 median home), income ($70,202 vs $73,073), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Omaha, NE and Reno, NV are about 1,254 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.