City comparison
No. Omaha's crime index is 141 versus 495 in Memphis, and its violent crime index is 102 versus 629, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Memphis is cheaper. Median rent is $1,181 a month versus $1,187 in Omaha.
Safety is where Memphis and Omaha split most clearly. Omaha scores 354 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,181 in Memphis and $1,187 in Omaha.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Memphis costs less and Omaha pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The crime gap is citywide. Omaha has rougher pockets and Memphis has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Memphis and Omaha are 529 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,181 a month in Memphis to $1,187 a month in Omaha, up $6 a month (1%).
Median household income goes from $51,736 in Memphis to $73,201 in Omaha, up $21,465 (41%).
The crime index goes from 495 in Memphis to 141 in Omaha, down 354 points (72%).
The move
Omaha and Memphis are 529 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,187 a month in Omaha to $1,181 a month in Memphis, down $6 a month (1%).
Median household income goes from $73,201 in Omaha to $51,736 in Memphis, down $21,465 (29%).
The crime index goes from 141 in Omaha to 495 in Memphis, up 354 points (251%).
Memphis, TN
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 Memphis and Omaha? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
1% cheaper
Memphis rent is 1% cheaper than Omaha
Memphis
Winner$1,181/mo
Omaha
$1,187/mo
Typical rent runs $1,181 a month in Memphis versus $1,187 in Omaha, so Memphis is 1% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $6, or $72 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 Memphis? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
41% higher
Omaha's median income is 41% higher than Memphis
Memphis
$51,736
Omaha
Winner$73,201
Median household income is $73,201 in Omaha versus $51,736 in Memphis, so typical pay runs 41% higher in Omaha (about $21,465 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. Memphis can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
72% lower crime
Omaha's crime index is 72% lower than Memphis
Memphis
495 (100 = avg)
Omaha
Winner141 (100 = avg)
Omaha's crime index is 141 versus 495 in Memphis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 72% 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. Memphis can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
20% more comfortable
Memphis weather is 20% more comfortable than Omaha
Memphis
Winner68°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Omaha
59°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 83/100
Memphis averages about 68°F (78°F highs); Omaha averages about 59°F (68°F highs). Memphis sits near 68°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. Memphis 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
Memphis is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 1% cheaper here at about $1,181 a month. Choose Memphis if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Memphis if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (68°F) beat Omaha on this page's weather index by 20%. Omaha may pay more or cost less, but Memphis is the city where the forecast fights you less.
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 41% 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 72% lower than Memphis (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
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Omaha leads on safety (50/100 vs 11/100 in Memphis). With rent tied near $1,187/month, do not assume either lease buys the calmer blocks.
Median income is $73,201 in Omaha versus $51,736 in Memphis — with rent matched, the paycheck gap matters more.
Weather averages land near 68°F in Memphis and 59°F in Omaha.
Between Memphis and Omaha, Omaha is ahead on safety — 50/100 safety versus 11/100. Lean Memphis instead when you already know the Memphis block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Memphis when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Memphis and Omaha, plus other cities in TN and NE.
