City comparison
No. Omaha's crime index is 141 versus 338 in Baltimore, and its violent crime index is 102 versus 428, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Omaha is cheaper. Median rent is $1,187 a month versus $1,331 in Baltimore.
Safety is where Baltimore and Omaha split most clearly. Omaha scores 197 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,331 in Baltimore and $1,187 in Omaha.
Omaha is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, and safety by margins that add up in daily life. Baltimore makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Omaha is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Omaha has rougher pockets and Baltimore has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Baltimore and Omaha are 1,026 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,331 a month in Baltimore to $1,187 a month in Omaha, down $144 a month (11%).
Median household income goes from $62,177 in Baltimore to $73,201 in Omaha, up $11,024 (18%).
The crime index goes from 338 in Baltimore to 141 in Omaha, down 197 points (58%).
The move
Omaha and Baltimore are 1,026 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,187 a month in Omaha to $1,331 a month in Baltimore, up $144 a month (12%).
Median household income goes from $73,201 in Omaha to $62,177 in Baltimore, down $11,024 (15%).
The crime index goes from 141 in Omaha to 338 in Baltimore, up 197 points (140%).
Baltimore, MD
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Omaha, NE
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Baltimore and Omaha? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
11% cheaper
Omaha rent is 11% cheaper than Baltimore
Baltimore
$1,331/mo
Omaha
Winner$1,187/mo
Typical rent runs $1,187 a month in Omaha versus $1,331 in Baltimore, so Omaha is 11% 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 $1,728, 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 Baltimore.
Planning to buy in Omaha? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
18% higher
Omaha's median income is 18% higher than Baltimore
Baltimore
$62,177
Omaha
Winner$73,201
Median household income is $73,201 in Omaha versus $62,177 in Baltimore, so typical pay runs 18% higher in Omaha (about $11,024 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Omaha is the stronger labor market on paper. Baltimore can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
58% lower crime
Omaha's crime index is 58% lower than Baltimore
Baltimore
338 (100 = avg)
Omaha
Winner141 (100 = avg)
Omaha's crime index is 141 versus 338 in Baltimore (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 58% 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. Baltimore can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
4% more comfortable
Baltimore weather is 4% more comfortable than Omaha
Baltimore
Winner55°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 72/100
Omaha
54°F avg · 63°F highs · comfort 69/100
Baltimore averages about 55°F (62°F highs); Omaha averages about 54°F (63°F highs). Baltimore averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Omaha averages around 54°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Baltimore scores 4% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Omaha if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Pick Baltimore if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (55°F) beat Omaha on this page's weather index by 4%. Omaha may pay more or cost less, but Baltimore is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Omaha is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 11% cheaper here at about $1,187 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 city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 18% higher here ($73,201). Start with Omaha if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Omaha is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 58% lower than Baltimore (141 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.
Bottom line
Crime and safety tilt toward Omaha: Omaha scores 50/100 versus 23/100 in Baltimore, with typical rent at $1,187 versus $1,331. I would vet the exact ZIP in Baltimore before trading 27 safety points for housing savings.
With only $144 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Typical rent stays $1,187 in Omaha and $1,331 in Baltimore.
If safety drives your move, Omaha is the stronger match (50/100 safety versus 23/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Baltimore, treat $1,331/month rent and $62,177 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Baltimore and Omaha, plus other cities in MD and NE.
