Is Omaha cheaper than Durham?

Yes. Typical rent in Omaha is $1,368 a month versus $1,711 in Durham — 20% cheaper. Median household income is $70,202 in Omaha compared with $74,710 in Durham, so Durham has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Omaha or Durham?

Omaha is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 70 versus 97 in Durham — 28% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.

Which city has better schools, Omaha or Durham?

School composites are close: A- in Omaha and A- in Durham. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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City comparison

Omaha, NE vs Durham, NC

Omaha, NE versus Durham, NC is a real move, not a trivia matchup. This comparison uses the same 2026 neighborhood report data we publish on each city page — typical rent, median household income, crime indexes, school composites, and typical weather — so you can see which city actually fits how you live, work, and spend. Typical rents sit near $1,368 a month in Omaha and $1,711 in Durham, and median household income lands at $70,202 versus $74,710. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Omaha takes affordability, safety, and weather, while Durham takes job market. The widest gap is crime index, where Omaha leads by 28% — the kind of spread you feel in a monthly budget or a nightly walk, not just on a chart. Read the category rows as a filter: if cheaper housing would change your life more than a stronger job market, weight rent first. If you are moving with kids, weight schools and crime. If you picked a city after one good weekend, use the weather and income rows to test whether that weekend survives a full year.

Numbers below are citywide, not a guarantee about the street you will actually live on. Two ZIP codes in Omaha can feel further apart than Omaha and Durham do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Omaha and Durham reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Omaha report Full Durham report

Omaha, NE

Rent: $1,368/mo
Median income: $70,202
Crime index: 70
Schools: A-
Weather: 78°F

Durham, NC

Rent: $1,711/mo
Median income: $74,710
Crime index: 97
Schools: A-
Weather: 79°F

Rent

20% cheaper

Omaha rent is 20% cheaper than Durham

Omaha

Winner

$1,368/mo

Durham

$1,711/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,368 a month in Omaha versus $1,711 in Durham, so Omaha is 20% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $4,116 — enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Omaha still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Durham.

Median income

6% higher

Durham's median income is 6% higher than Omaha

Omaha

$70,202

Durham

Winner

$74,710

What this means for your life

Median household income is $74,710 in Durham versus $70,202 in Omaha, so typical pay runs 6% higher in Durham — about $4,508 more household income a year. The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.

Crime index

28% lower crime

Omaha's crime index is 28% lower than Durham

Omaha

Winner

70 (100 = avg)

Durham

97 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Omaha's crime index is 70 versus 97 in Durham (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 28% lower in Omaha. That gap is meaningful day-to-day — it affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Omaha is the easier city. Durham can still work if you pick the right pocket — just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.

School scores

Neck and neck

Omaha and Durham are about even on school scores.

Omaha

A- · 84/100

Durham

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Omaha, A- in Durham). For families with kids this is a warning if you assumed one city was obviously better — at this range the campus, not the city name, decides it. Tour the zoned elementary you would actually use.

Typical weather

3% more comfortable

Omaha weather is 3% more comfortable than Durham

Omaha

Winner

78°F typical

Durham

79°F typical

What this means for your life

Omaha scores 3% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 78°F in Omaha and 79°F in Durham. Omaha reads as warm weather most of the year; Durham reads as warm weather most of the year. The comfort edge is real but not a personality transplant. If you already know you want Durham's season, a modest index lead should not talk you out of it. If you are undecided, Omaha is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Fit check

Who should choose Omaha

Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing

Omaha is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 20% cheaper here at about $1,368 a month. Choose Omaha if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

Pick Omaha if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (78°F) beat Durham on this page's weather index by 3%. Durham may pay more or cost less, but Omaha is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Omaha is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 28% lower than Durham (70 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.

Open the Omaha report →

Fit check

Who should choose Durham

Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth

Durham is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 6% higher here ($74,710). Start with Durham if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.

Open the Durham report →

Bottom line

Omaha vs Durham, called

If safety is your priority, Omaha is the clear choice.

If the job market matters more to you, Durham pulls ahead.

For most movers comparing these two cities, Omaha offers the better overall package.

Common questions

Omaha vs Durham FAQ

Is Omaha cheaper than Durham?: Yes. Typical rent in Omaha is $1,368 a month versus $1,711 in Durham — 20% cheaper. Median household income is $70,202 in Omaha compared with $74,710 in Durham, so Durham has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Omaha or Durham?: Omaha is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 70 versus 97 in Durham — 28% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.
Which city has better schools, Omaha or Durham?: School composites are close: A- in Omaha and A- in Durham. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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