Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Omaha, NE
VS
Scottsdale, AZ
🏆 Scottsdale leads 17 of 23 categories
Omaha
Nebraska
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$70,202
Violent Crime Index
97
Population
489,201 ✓ Larger
Scottsdale
Arizona
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,197 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
240,537
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Omaha, NE
Pros
Homes cost $442k less ($210,300 vs $651,800)
Rent averages $669/mo less ($1,099 vs $1,768)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Scottsdale
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 99°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.5)
Cons
Median income trails Scottsdale by $33,995/yr
Property crime (3161.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.2% vs 3.5%)
Scottsdale, AZ
Pros
59% less violent crime than Omaha
Households earn $33,995 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (152.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 32°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (3.5%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $651,800
Higher rents — median is $1,768/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Omaha
Hot summers — July highs average 99°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Omaha
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 92.5 vs 104.0 (100 = US avg)
Omaha
Median Home Value
$442k less
$210,300 vs $651,800
Scottsdale
Median Income
$33,995
$104,197 vs $70,202/yr
Scottsdale
Violent Crime
59% lower
152.5 vs 369.0 per 100k
Scottsdale
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
3.5% vs 4.2% unemployment
Scottsdale
Summer Heat
14.2°F warmer
July avg high 99.4°F vs 85.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Omaha, NE | Scottsdale, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.5 ✓ Cheaper | 104.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $210,300 ✓ Lower | $651,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,099 ✓ Lower | $1,768⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $70,202 | $104,197 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High | 3.5% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 21.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% | 26.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 118⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 97 | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 151⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | 16.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.2% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.4% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | OMAHA PUBLIC SCHOOLS | Scottsdale Unified District (4240) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.3°F | 63.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.2°F | 99.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.1" | 11.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 27.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 489,201 ✓ Larger | 240,537 |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 48.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.9% | 67.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 14.3% |
| Over 65 | 13.8% | 25.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Omaha's cost of living index is 92.5 vs Scottsdale's 104.0 (US average = 100).
Omaha is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Scottsdale leads 17 of 23 categories. Omaha wins 6 and Scottsdale wins 17. 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 Scottsdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($210,300 vs $651,800 median home), income ($70,202 vs $104,197), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Omaha, NE and Scottsdale, AZ are about 1,010 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.