Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Omaha, NE
VS
Springfield, IL
🏆 Springfield leads 13 of 23 categories
Omaha
Nebraska
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.5
Median Household Income
$70,202 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
97 ✓ Safer
Population
489,201 ✓ Larger
Springfield
Illinois
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,419
Violent Crime Index
237⚠ High
Population
114,214
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Omaha, NE
Pros
59% less violent crime than Springfield
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (4.2%)
Households earn $7,783 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.5)
More college-educated — 39.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Property crime (3161.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Springfield
Springfield, IL
Pros
Homes cost $63k less ($147,700 vs $210,300)
Rent averages $186/mo less ($913 vs $1,099)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.5)
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Omaha
Cons
Violent crime (901.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4911.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Omaha by $7,783/yr
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 4.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Omaha
Median Income
$7,783
$70,202 vs $62,419/yr
Omaha
Violent Crime
59% lower
369.0 vs 901.2 per 100k
Omaha
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
4.2% vs 6.6% unemployment
Springfield
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 90.5 vs 92.5 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$63k less
$147,700 vs $210,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Omaha, NE | Springfield, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.5 | 90.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $210,300 | $147,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,099 | $913 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $70,202 ✓ Higher | $62,419 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% ✓ Higher | 10.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 97 ✓ Safer | 237⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 151⚠ High ✓ Safer | 234⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | A- (111) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.2% ✓ Higher | 34.7% |
| High School or Higher | 90.4% | 92.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | OMAHA PUBLIC SCHOOLS | Springfield SD 186 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.3°F | 35.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.2°F | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.1" ✓ Drier | 40.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 27.1" | 21.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 489,201 ✓ Larger | 114,214 |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 40.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.9% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 21.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.8% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Omaha's cost of living index is 92.5 vs Springfield's 90.5 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Springfield leads 13 of 23 categories. Omaha wins 10 and Springfield wins 13. 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 Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($210,300 vs $147,700 median home), income ($70,202 vs $62,419), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Omaha, NE and Springfield, IL are about 352 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.