Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Omaha, NE
VS
Tacoma, WA
🏆 Omaha leads 16 of 23 categories
Omaha
Nebraska
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$70,202
Violent Crime Index
97 ✓ Safer
Population
489,201 ✓ Larger
Tacoma
Washington
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$79,085 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
280⚠ High
Population
219,234
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Omaha, NE
Pros
Homes cost $205k less ($210,300 vs $415,300)
65% less violent crime than Tacoma
Rent averages $390/mo less ($1,099 vs $1,489)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Tacoma
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.2%)
Cons
Property crime (3161.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Tacoma by $8,883/yr
Tacoma, WA
Pros
Households earn $8,883 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 32°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 85°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $415,300
Higher rents — median is $1,489/mo
Violent crime (1063.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Omaha
Key Differences at a Glance
Omaha
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 92.5 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Omaha
Violent Crime
65% lower
369.0 vs 1063.0 per 100k
Omaha
Median Home Value
$205k less
$210,300 vs $415,300
Omaha
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.4% unemployment
Omaha
Summer Heat
8.4°F warmer
July avg high 85.2°F vs 76.8°F
Tacoma
Median Income
$8,883
$79,085 vs $70,202/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Omaha, NE | Tacoma, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.5 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $210,300 ✓ Lower | $415,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,099 ✓ Lower | $1,489⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $70,202 | $79,085 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% | 12.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer | 275⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 97 ✓ Safer | 280⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 151⚠ High ✓ Safer | 267⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.2% ✓ Higher | 32.8% |
| High School or Higher | 90.4% | 90.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | OMAHA PUBLIC SCHOOLS | Tacoma School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.3°F | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.2°F ✓ Warmer | 76.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.1" ✓ Drier | 40.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 27.1" | 5.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 489,201 ✓ Larger | 219,234 |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.9% ✓ Higher | 56.8% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 13.8% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Omaha's cost of living index is 92.5 vs Tacoma's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Omaha is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Omaha leads 16 of 23 categories. Omaha wins 16 and Tacoma 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 Tacoma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($210,300 vs $415,300 median home), income ($70,202 vs $79,085), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Omaha, NE and Tacoma, WA are about 1,363 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.