Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Omaha, NE
VS
Wilmington, NC
🏆 Omaha leads 12 of 23 categories
Omaha
Nebraska
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$70,202 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
97 ✓ Safer
Population
489,201 ✓ Larger
Wilmington
North Carolina
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1
Median Household Income
$58,908
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
116,933
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Omaha, NE
Pros
Homes cost $108k less ($210,300 vs $318,600)
24% less violent crime than Wilmington
Households earn $11,294 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.2%)
Rent averages $114/mo less ($1,099 vs $1,213)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.5)
Cons
Property crime (3161.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Wilmington, NC
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 32°F
More college-educated — 43.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 15.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $318,600
Violent crime (482.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Omaha by $11,294/yr
Property crime (3514.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Omaha
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 92.5 vs 97.1 (100 = US avg)
Omaha
Median Income
$11,294
$70,202 vs $58,908/yr
Omaha
Violent Crime
24% lower
369.0 vs 482.8 per 100k
Omaha
Median Home Value
$108k less
$210,300 vs $318,600
Omaha
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.2% vs 4.9% unemployment
Wilmington
Summer Heat
4.8°F warmer
July avg high 90.0°F vs 85.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Omaha, NE | Wilmington, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.5 ✓ Cheaper | 97.1 |
| Median Home Value | $210,300 ✓ Lower | $318,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,099 ✓ Lower | $1,213 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $70,202 ✓ Higher | $58,908 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% | 14.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 97 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 151⚠ High ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.2% | 43.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.4% | 93.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | OMAHA PUBLIC SCHOOLS | New Hanover County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.3°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.2°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.1" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 27.1" | 0.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 489,201 ✓ Larger | 116,933 |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.9% ✓ Higher | 45.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.8% | 17.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Omaha's cost of living index is 92.5 vs Wilmington's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Omaha is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Omaha leads 12 of 23 categories. Omaha wins 12 and Wilmington 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 Wilmington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($210,300 vs $318,600 median home), income ($70,202 vs $58,908), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Omaha, NE and Wilmington, NC are about 1,103 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.