City comparison
No. Omaha's crime index is 141 versus 195 in Fresno, and its violent crime index is 102 versus 211, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Omaha is cheaper. Median rent is $1,187 a month versus $1,421 in Fresno.
Safety is where Fresno and Omaha split most clearly. Omaha scores 54 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,421 in Fresno 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. Fresno 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
Fresno and Omaha are 1,312 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,421 a month in Fresno to $1,187 a month in Omaha, down $234 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $70,991 in Fresno to $73,201 in Omaha, up $2,210 (3%).
The crime index goes from 195 in Fresno to 141 in Omaha, down 54 points (28%).
The move
Omaha and Fresno are 1,312 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,187 a month in Omaha to $1,421 a month in Fresno, up $234 a month (20%).
Median household income goes from $73,201 in Omaha to $70,991 in Fresno, down $2,210 (3%).
The crime index goes from 141 in Omaha to 195 in Fresno, up 54 points (38%).
Fresno, CA
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 Fresno and Omaha? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
16% cheaper
Omaha rent is 16% cheaper than Fresno
Fresno
$1,421/mo
Omaha
Winner$1,187/mo
Typical rent runs $1,187 a month in Omaha versus $1,421 in Fresno, so Omaha is 16% 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 $2,808, 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 Fresno.
Planning to buy in Omaha? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
3% higher
Omaha's median income is 3% higher than Fresno
Fresno
$70,991
Omaha
Winner$73,201
Median household income is $73,201 in Omaha versus $70,991 in Fresno, so typical pay runs 3% higher in Omaha (about $2,210 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 Fresno
Fresno
195 (100 = avg)
Omaha
Winner141 (100 = avg)
Omaha's crime index is 141 versus 195 in Fresno (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. Fresno can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
20% more comfortable
Fresno weather is 20% more comfortable than Omaha
Fresno
Winner74°F avg · 84°F highs · comfort 100/100
Omaha
59°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 83/100
Fresno averages about 74°F (84°F highs); Omaha averages about 59°F (68°F highs). Fresno sits near 74°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. Fresno 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 Fresno if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (74°F) beat Omaha on this page's weather index by 20%. Omaha may pay more or cost less, but Fresno 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 16% 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 3% 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 28% lower than Fresno (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
Safety is the widest gap: Omaha scores 50/100 versus 40/100 in Fresno. Rent is $1,187/month in Omaha and $1,421/month in Fresno, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Safety still diverges (50/100 in Omaha vs 40/100 in Fresno), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,187 in Omaha and $1,421 in Fresno.
Between Fresno and Omaha, Omaha is ahead on safety — 50/100 safety versus 40/100. Lean Fresno instead when you already know the Fresno block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Fresno and Omaha, plus other cities in CA and NE.
