City comparison
No. Omaha's crime index is 141 versus 150 in Jacksonville, and its violent crime index is 102 versus 155, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Omaha is cheaper. Median rent is $1,187 a month versus $1,465 in Jacksonville.
Jacksonville and Omaha are closer on paper than many city pairs, so the move comes down to how you weight cost, safety, and climate. Typical rent sits near $1,465 in Jacksonville and $1,187 in Omaha, and median household income lands at $69,872 versus $73,201. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
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. Jacksonville 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
Jacksonville and Omaha are 1,097 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,465 a month in Jacksonville to $1,187 a month in Omaha, down $278 a month (19%).
Median household income goes from $69,872 in Jacksonville to $73,201 in Omaha, up $3,329 (5%).
The crime index goes from 150 in Jacksonville to 141 in Omaha, down 9 points (6%).
The move
Omaha and Jacksonville are 1,097 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,187 a month in Omaha to $1,465 a month in Jacksonville, up $278 a month (23%).
Median household income goes from $73,201 in Omaha to $69,872 in Jacksonville, down $3,329 (5%).
The crime index goes from 141 in Omaha to 150 in Jacksonville, up 9 points (6%).
Jacksonville, FL
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 Jacksonville and Omaha? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
19% cheaper
Omaha rent is 19% cheaper than Jacksonville
Jacksonville
$1,465/mo
Omaha
Winner$1,187/mo
Typical rent runs $1,187 a month in Omaha versus $1,465 in Jacksonville, 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 $3,336, 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 Jacksonville.
Planning to buy in Omaha? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
5% higher
Omaha's median income is 5% higher than Jacksonville
Jacksonville
$69,872
Omaha
Winner$73,201
Median household income is $73,201 in Omaha versus $69,872 in Jacksonville, so typical pay runs 5% higher in Omaha (about $3,329 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
6% lower crime
Omaha's crime index is 6% lower than Jacksonville
Jacksonville
150 (100 = avg)
Omaha
Winner141 (100 = avg)
Omaha's crime index is 141 versus 150 in Jacksonville (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 6% 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 Jacksonville. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
18% more comfortable
Jacksonville weather is 18% more comfortable than Omaha
Jacksonville
Winner73°F avg · 80°F highs · comfort 98/100
Omaha
59°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 83/100
Jacksonville averages about 73°F (80°F highs); Omaha averages about 59°F (68°F highs). Jacksonville sits near 73°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. Jacksonville scores 18% 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 Jacksonville if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (73°F) beat Omaha on this page's weather index by 18%. Omaha may pay more or cost less, but Jacksonville 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 5% 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 6% lower than Jacksonville (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
On weather alone, Jacksonville is the warmer market (73°F) and Omaha the cooler (59°F). Typical leases run $1,465 and $1,187; choose the climate you will tolerate year-round, not just on a visit weekend.
Safety scores read 48/100 in Jacksonville and 50/100 in Omaha.
Jacksonville wins on climate (73°F vs 59°F); Omaha is the better fit if $1,187 rent and $73,201 pay matter more than daily weather.
Typical rent stays $1,187 in Omaha and $1,465 in Jacksonville.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Omaha when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Jacksonville and Omaha, plus other cities in FL and NE.
