Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Omaha, NE
VS
Tempe, AZ
🏆 Omaha leads 12 of 23 categories
Omaha
Nebraska
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$70,202
Violent Crime Index
97 ✓ Safer
Population
489,201 ✓ Larger
Tempe
Arizona
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.9
Median Household Income
$72,022 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
181,005
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Omaha, NE
Pros
Homes cost $172k less ($210,300 vs $382,100)
22% less violent crime than Tempe
Rent averages $373/mo less ($1,099 vs $1,472)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.2%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 106°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.5)
Cons
Property crime (3161.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Tempe, AZ
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 32°F
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 14.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $382,100
Higher rents — median is $1,472/mo
Violent crime (470.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2893.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Omaha
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 92.5 vs 99.9 (100 = US avg)
Omaha
Violent Crime
22% lower
369.0 vs 470.3 per 100k
Omaha
Median Home Value
$172k less
$210,300 vs $382,100
Omaha
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.7% unemployment
Tempe
Median Income
$1,820
$72,022 vs $70,202/yr
Tempe
Summer Heat
20.7°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 85.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Omaha, NE | Tempe, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.5 ✓ Cheaper | 99.9 |
| Median Home Value | $210,300 ✓ Lower | $382,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,099 ✓ Lower | $1,472⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $70,202 | $72,022 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 21.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 97 ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 151⚠ High | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.2% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.4% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | OMAHA PUBLIC SCHOOLS | Tempe School District (4258) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.3°F | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.2°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.1" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 27.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 489,201 ✓ Larger | 181,005 |
| Median Age | 35.1 ✓ Older | 29.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.9% ✓ Higher | 40.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 14.4% |
| Over 65 | 13.8% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Omaha's cost of living index is 92.5 vs Tempe's 99.9 (US average = 100).
Omaha is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Omaha leads 12 of 23 categories. Omaha wins 12 and Tempe wins 11. 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 Tempe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($210,300 vs $382,100 median home), income ($70,202 vs $72,022), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Omaha, NE and Tempe, AZ are about 1,026 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.