Is Omaha cheaper than Madison?

Yes. Typical rent in Omaha is $1,368 a month versus $1,694 in Madison — 19% cheaper. Median household income is $70,202 in Omaha compared with $74,895 in Madison, so Madison has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Omaha or Madison?

Omaha is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 70 versus 71 in Madison — 1% 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 Madison?

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

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City comparison

Omaha, NE vs Madison, WI

Omaha, NE versus Madison, WI 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 $1,694 in Madison, and median household income lands at $70,202 versus $74,895. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Omaha takes affordability and safety, while Madison takes job market and weather. The widest gap is rent, where Omaha leads by 19% — 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 Madison do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Omaha and Madison reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Omaha report Full Madison report

Omaha, NE

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

Madison, WI

Rent: $1,694/mo
Median income: $74,895
Crime index: 71
Schools: A-
Weather: 66°F

Rent

19% cheaper

Omaha rent is 19% cheaper than Madison

Omaha

Winner

$1,368/mo

Madison

$1,694/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,368 a month in Omaha versus $1,694 in Madison, so Omaha is 19% 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 $3,912 — 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 Madison.

Median income

7% higher

Madison's median income is 7% higher than Omaha

Omaha

$70,202

Madison

Winner

$74,895

What this means for your life

Median household income is $74,895 in Madison versus $70,202 in Omaha, so typical pay runs 7% higher in Madison — about $4,693 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

1% lower crime

Omaha's crime index is 1% lower than Madison

Omaha

Winner

70 (100 = avg)

Madison

71 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Omaha's crime index is 70 versus 71 in Madison (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 1% lower in Omaha. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Omaha, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Madison. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.

School scores

Neck and neck

Omaha and Madison are about even on school scores.

Omaha

A- · 84/100

Madison

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Omaha, A- in Madison). 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

13% more comfortable

Madison weather is 13% more comfortable than Omaha

Omaha

78°F typical

Madison

Winner

66°F typical

What this means for your life

Madison scores 13% 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 66°F in Madison. Omaha reads as warm weather most of the year; Madison reads as mild, livable temperatures. The comfort edge is real but not a personality transplant. If you already know you want Omaha's season, a modest index lead should not talk you out of it. If you are undecided, Madison is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Fit check

Who should choose Omaha

Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy

Omaha is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 19% 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.

Omaha is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 1% lower than Madison (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 Madison

Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access

It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 7% higher ($74,895), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two — around 66°F. That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.

Open the Madison report →

Bottom line

Omaha vs Madison, called

If cost of living is your priority, Omaha is the clear choice.

If weather matters more to you, Madison pulls ahead.

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

Common questions

Omaha vs Madison FAQ

Is Omaha cheaper than Madison?: Yes. Typical rent in Omaha is $1,368 a month versus $1,694 in Madison — 19% cheaper. Median household income is $70,202 in Omaha compared with $74,895 in Madison, so Madison has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Omaha or Madison?: Omaha is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 70 versus 71 in Madison — 1% 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 Madison?: School composites are close: A- in Omaha and A- in Madison. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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