City comparison
No. Omaha's crime index is 141 versus 209 in Louisville, and its violent crime index is 102 versus 207, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Louisville is cheaper. Median rent is $1,120 a month versus $1,187 in Omaha.
Safety is where Louisville and Omaha split most clearly. Omaha scores 68 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,120 in Louisville and $1,187 in Omaha.
Omaha is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Louisville 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 Louisville has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Louisville and Omaha are 579 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,120 a month in Louisville to $1,187 a month in Omaha, up $67 a month (6%).
Median household income goes from $66,849 in Louisville to $73,201 in Omaha, up $6,352 (10%).
The crime index goes from 209 in Louisville to 141 in Omaha, down 68 points (33%).
The move
Omaha and Louisville are 579 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,187 a month in Omaha to $1,120 a month in Louisville, down $67 a month (6%).
Median household income goes from $73,201 in Omaha to $66,849 in Louisville, down $6,352 (9%).
The crime index goes from 141 in Omaha to 209 in Louisville, up 68 points (48%).
Louisville, KY
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 Louisville and Omaha? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
6% cheaper
Louisville rent is 6% cheaper than Omaha
Louisville
Winner$1,120/mo
Omaha
$1,187/mo
Typical rent runs $1,120 a month in Louisville versus $1,187 in Omaha, so Louisville is 6% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $67, or $804 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Omaha? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
10% higher
Omaha's median income is 10% higher than Louisville
Louisville
$66,849
Omaha
Winner$73,201
Median household income is $73,201 in Omaha versus $66,849 in Louisville, so typical pay runs 10% higher in Omaha (about $6,352 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
33% lower crime
Omaha's crime index is 33% lower than Louisville
Louisville
209 (100 = avg)
Omaha
Winner141 (100 = avg)
Omaha's crime index is 141 versus 209 in Louisville (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 33% 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. Louisville can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
11% more comfortable
Omaha weather is 11% more comfortable than Louisville
Louisville
56°F avg · 65°F highs · comfort 75/100
Omaha
Winner59°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 83/100
Louisville averages about 56°F (65°F highs); Omaha averages about 59°F (68°F highs). Louisville averages around 56°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Omaha averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Omaha scores 11% 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 Louisville if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Louisville
Louisville is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 6% cheaper here at about $1,120 a month. Choose Louisville if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 10% higher ($73,201), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 59°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Omaha is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 33% lower than Louisville (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 38/100 in Louisville, with typical rent at $1,187 versus $1,120. I would vet the exact ZIP in Louisville before trading 12 safety points for housing savings.
Louisville rent at $1,120/month is still below Omaha's $1,187, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 56°F in Louisville and 59°F in Omaha.
Omaha clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Louisville deserves a serious look only when you already know the Louisville 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 Louisville and Omaha, plus other cities in KY and NE.
