Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Omaha, NE
VS
St. Louis, MO
🏆 Omaha leads 13 of 23 categories
Omaha
Nebraska
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$70,202 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
97 ✓ Safer
Population
489,201 ✓ Larger
St. Louis
Missouri
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.3
Median Household Income
$52,941
Violent Crime Index
360⚠ High
Population
298,018
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Omaha, NE
Pros
73% less violent crime than St. Louis
Households earn $17,261 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.2%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.5)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than St. Louis
Cons
Property crime (3161.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
St. Louis, MO
Pros
Homes cost $36k less ($174,100 vs $210,300)
Rent averages $161/mo less ($938 vs $1,099)
Milder winters — January highs near 41°F vs 32°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1367.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Omaha by $17,261/yr
Property crime (5706.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 4.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Omaha
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 92.5 vs 96.3 (100 = US avg)
Omaha
Median Income
$17,261
$70,202 vs $52,941/yr
Omaha
Violent Crime
73% lower
369.0 vs 1367.1 per 100k
Omaha
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.4% unemployment
St. Louis
Median Home Value
$36k less
$174,100 vs $210,300
St. Louis
Summer Heat
4.4°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 85.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Omaha, NE | St. Louis, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.5 ✓ Cheaper | 96.3 |
| Median Home Value | $210,300 | $174,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,099 | $938 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $70,202 ✓ Higher | $52,941 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 23.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer | 325⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 97 ✓ Safer | 360⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 151⚠ High ✓ Safer | 272⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.2% ✓ Higher | 38.6% |
| High School or Higher | 90.4% ✓ Higher | 90.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | OMAHA PUBLIC SCHOOLS | ST. LOUIS CITY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.3°F | 40.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.2°F | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.1" ✓ Drier | 43.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 27.1" | 13.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 489,201 ✓ Larger | 298,018 |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.9% ✓ Higher | 44.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 18.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.8% | 14.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Omaha's cost of living index is 92.5 vs St. Louis's 96.3 (US average = 100).
Omaha is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Omaha leads 13 of 23 categories. Omaha wins 13 and St. Louis wins 10. 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 St. Louis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($210,300 vs $174,100 median home), income ($70,202 vs $52,941), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Omaha, NE and St. Louis, MO are about 357 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.