City comparison
No. Omaha's crime index is 141 versus 188 in Dallas, and its violent crime index is 102 versus 179, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Omaha is cheaper. Median rent is $1,187 a month versus $1,472 in Dallas.
Safety is where Dallas and Omaha split most clearly. Omaha scores 47 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,472 in Dallas 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. Dallas 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 rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Omaha at $1,187 average has pockets that run $987 and others at $1,587: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Dallas and Omaha are 587 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,472 a month in Dallas to $1,187 a month in Omaha, down $285 a month (19%).
Median household income goes from $70,518 in Dallas to $73,201 in Omaha, up $2,683 (4%).
The crime index goes from 188 in Dallas to 141 in Omaha, down 47 points (25%).
The move
Omaha and Dallas are 587 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,187 a month in Omaha to $1,472 a month in Dallas, up $285 a month (24%).
Median household income goes from $73,201 in Omaha to $70,518 in Dallas, down $2,683 (4%).
The crime index goes from 141 in Omaha to 188 in Dallas, up 47 points (33%).
Dallas, TX
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 Dallas and Omaha? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
19% cheaper
Omaha rent is 19% cheaper than Dallas
Dallas
$1,472/mo
Omaha
Winner$1,187/mo
Typical rent runs $1,187 a month in Omaha versus $1,472 in Dallas, 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 $3,420, 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 Dallas.
Planning to buy in Omaha? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
4% higher
Omaha's median income is 4% higher than Dallas
Dallas
$70,518
Omaha
Winner$73,201
Median household income is $73,201 in Omaha versus $70,518 in Dallas, so typical pay runs 4% higher in Omaha (about $2,683 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
25% lower crime
Omaha's crime index is 25% lower than Dallas
Dallas
188 (100 = avg)
Omaha
Winner141 (100 = avg)
Omaha's crime index is 141 versus 188 in Dallas (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 25% 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. Dallas can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
20% more comfortable
Dallas weather is 20% more comfortable than Omaha
Dallas
Winner67°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 100/100
Omaha
59°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 83/100
Dallas averages about 67°F (74°F highs); Omaha averages about 59°F (68°F highs). Dallas sits near 67°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Omaha averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Dallas scores 20% 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 Dallas if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (67°F) beat Omaha on this page's weather index by 20%. Omaha may pay more or cost less, but Dallas 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 19% 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 4% 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 25% lower than Dallas (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
Dallas runs $1,472/month while Omaha sits at $1,187 — roughly 19% lower on typical leases. Unless your offer letter is Dallas-sized, that monthly gap compounds fast.
Safety still diverges (50/100 in Omaha vs 41/100 in Dallas), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Weather averages land near 67°F in Dallas and 59°F in Omaha.
Between Dallas and Omaha, Omaha is ahead on housing cost — $1,187/month rent against $1,472. Lean Dallas instead when your $70,518 income offer in Dallas outweighs saving $285/month in Omaha.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Dallas and Omaha, plus other cities in TX and NE.
