City comparison
No. Omaha's crime index is 141 versus 266 in Milwaukee, and its violent crime index is 102 versus 375, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Milwaukee is cheaper. Median rent is $1,059 a month versus $1,187 in Omaha.
Safety is where Milwaukee and Omaha split most clearly. Omaha scores 125 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,059 in Milwaukee 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. Milwaukee 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 Milwaukee has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Milwaukee and Omaha are 429 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,059 a month in Milwaukee to $1,187 a month in Omaha, up $128 a month (12%).
Median household income goes from $54,234 in Milwaukee to $73,201 in Omaha, up $18,967 (35%).
The crime index goes from 266 in Milwaukee to 141 in Omaha, down 125 points (47%).
The move
Omaha and Milwaukee are 429 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,187 a month in Omaha to $1,059 a month in Milwaukee, down $128 a month (11%).
Median household income goes from $73,201 in Omaha to $54,234 in Milwaukee, down $18,967 (26%).
The crime index goes from 141 in Omaha to 266 in Milwaukee, up 125 points (89%).
Milwaukee, WI
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 Milwaukee and Omaha? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
11% cheaper
Milwaukee rent is 11% cheaper than Omaha
Milwaukee
Winner$1,059/mo
Omaha
$1,187/mo
Typical rent runs $1,059 a month in Milwaukee versus $1,187 in Omaha, so Milwaukee is 11% 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 $1,536, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Milwaukee 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 Omaha? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
35% higher
Omaha's median income is 35% higher than Milwaukee
Milwaukee
$54,234
Omaha
Winner$73,201
Median household income is $73,201 in Omaha versus $54,234 in Milwaukee, so typical pay runs 35% higher in Omaha (about $18,967 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. Milwaukee can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
47% lower crime
Omaha's crime index is 47% lower than Milwaukee
Milwaukee
266 (100 = avg)
Omaha
Winner141 (100 = avg)
Omaha's crime index is 141 versus 266 in Milwaukee (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 47% 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. Milwaukee can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
13% more comfortable
Omaha weather is 13% more comfortable than Milwaukee
Milwaukee
51°F avg · 57°F highs · comfort 61/100
Omaha
Winner54°F avg · 63°F highs · comfort 69/100
Milwaukee averages about 51°F (57°F highs); Omaha averages about 54°F (63°F highs). Milwaukee averages around 51°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Omaha averages around 54°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Omaha scores 13% 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 Milwaukee 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 Milwaukee
Milwaukee is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 11% cheaper here at about $1,059 a month. Choose Milwaukee 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 35% higher ($73,201), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 54°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 47% lower than Milwaukee (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
Milwaukee carries the heavier crime signal on this page (30/100 safety vs 50/100 in Omaha). That 20-point spread matters more than the $128 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Milwaukee rent at $1,059/month is still below Omaha's $1,187, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,059 in Milwaukee and $1,187 in Omaha.
Pick Omaha when you want the stronger safety signal (50/100). Otherwise, Milwaukee's case rests on a Milwaukee ZIP you trust at $1,059 rent.
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 Milwaukee and Omaha, plus other cities in WI and NE.
