City comparison
Yes. El Paso's crime index is 87 versus 141 in Omaha, and its violent crime index is 88 versus 102, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
El Paso is cheaper. Median rent is $1,073 a month versus $1,187 in Omaha.
Safety is where El Paso and Omaha split most clearly. El Paso scores 54 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,073 in El Paso and $1,187 in Omaha.
El Paso is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Omaha makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone El Paso is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. El Paso has rougher pockets and Omaha has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
El Paso and Omaha are 878 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,073 a month in El Paso to $1,187 a month in Omaha, up $114 a month (11%).
Median household income goes from $59,745 in El Paso to $73,201 in Omaha, up $13,456 (23%).
The crime index goes from 87 in El Paso to 141 in Omaha, up 54 points (62%).
The move
Omaha and El Paso are 878 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,187 a month in Omaha to $1,073 a month in El Paso, down $114 a month (10%).
Median household income goes from $73,201 in Omaha to $59,745 in El Paso, down $13,456 (18%).
The crime index goes from 141 in Omaha to 87 in El Paso, down 54 points (38%).
El Paso, 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 El Paso and Omaha? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
10% cheaper
El Paso rent is 10% cheaper than Omaha
El Paso
Winner$1,073/mo
Omaha
$1,187/mo
Typical rent runs $1,073 a month in El Paso versus $1,187 in Omaha, so El Paso is 10% 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 $1,368, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. El Paso still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Omaha.
Planning to buy in El Paso? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
23% higher
Omaha's median income is 23% higher than El Paso
El Paso
$59,745
Omaha
Winner$73,201
Median household income is $73,201 in Omaha versus $59,745 in El Paso, so typical pay runs 23% higher in Omaha (about $13,456 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. El Paso can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
38% lower crime
El Paso's crime index is 38% lower than Omaha
El Paso
Winner87 (100 = avg)
Omaha
141 (100 = avg)
El Paso's crime index is 87 versus 141 in Omaha (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 38% lower in El Paso. 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, El Paso is the easier city. Omaha can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
20% more comfortable
El Paso weather is 20% more comfortable than Omaha
El Paso
Winner66°F avg · 72°F highs · comfort 100/100
Omaha
59°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 83/100
El Paso averages about 66°F (72°F highs); Omaha averages about 59°F (68°F highs). El Paso sits near 66°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. El Paso 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
El Paso is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 10% cheaper here at about $1,073 a month. Choose El Paso if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick El Paso if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (66°F) beat Omaha on this page's weather index by 20%. Omaha may pay more or cost less, but El Paso is the city where the forecast fights you less.
El Paso is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 38% lower than Omaha (87 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.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Omaha is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 23% higher here ($73,201). Start with Omaha if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Bottom line
Safety is the widest gap: El Paso scores 64/100 versus 50/100 in Omaha. Rent is $1,073/month in El Paso and $1,187/month in Omaha, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
El Paso rent at $1,073/month is still below Omaha's $1,187, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 66°F in El Paso and 59°F in Omaha.
El Paso is ahead on safety (64/100 vs 50/100); Omaha is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,187/month rent plus $73,201 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
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