City comparison
No. Omaha's crime index is 141 versus 282 in Nashville, and its violent crime index is 102 versus 309, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Omaha is cheaper. Median rent is $1,187 a month versus $1,586 in Nashville.
Safety is where Nashville and Omaha split most clearly. Omaha scores 141 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,586 in Nashville and $1,187 in Omaha.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Omaha costs less and Nashville 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 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
Nashville and Omaha are 606 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,586 a month in Nashville to $1,187 a month in Omaha, down $399 a month (25%).
Median household income goes from $77,371 in Nashville to $73,201 in Omaha, down $4,170 (5%).
The crime index goes from 282 in Nashville to 141 in Omaha, down 141 points (50%).
The move
Omaha and Nashville are 606 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,187 a month in Omaha to $1,586 a month in Nashville, up $399 a month (34%).
Median household income goes from $73,201 in Omaha to $77,371 in Nashville, up $4,170 (6%).
The crime index goes from 141 in Omaha to 282 in Nashville, up 141 points (100%).
Nashville, 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 Nashville and Omaha? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
25% cheaper
Omaha rent is 25% cheaper than Nashville
Nashville
$1,586/mo
Omaha
Winner$1,187/mo
Typical rent runs $1,187 a month in Omaha versus $1,586 in Nashville, so Omaha is 25% cheaper. That's roughly $399/month back in your pocket ($4,788/year). Over five years that's $23,940 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Nashville, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Omaha is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Omaha? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
6% higher
Nashville's median income is 6% higher than Omaha
Nashville
Winner$77,371
Omaha
$73,201
Median household income is $77,371 in Nashville versus $73,201 in Omaha, so typical pay runs 6% higher in Nashville (about $4,170 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
50% lower crime
Omaha's crime index is 50% lower than Nashville
Nashville
282 (100 = avg)
Omaha
Winner141 (100 = avg)
Omaha's crime index is 141 versus 282 in Nashville (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 50% 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. Nashville can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
17% more comfortable
Nashville weather is 17% more comfortable than Omaha
Nashville
Winner64°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 97/100
Omaha
59°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 83/100
Nashville averages about 64°F (74°F highs); Omaha averages about 59°F (68°F highs). Nashville averages around 64°F. Omaha averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Nashville scores 17% 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
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 6% higher ($77,371), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 64°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Omaha is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 25% 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 fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 50% lower than Nashville (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
Nashville carries the heavier crime signal on this page (28/100 safety vs 50/100 in Omaha). That 22-point spread matters more than the $399 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Nashville still pays more locally ($77,371 median income vs $73,201), which can offset the lease if your field pays Nashville rates.
Weather averages land near 64°F in Nashville and 59°F in Omaha.
Omaha clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Nashville deserves a serious look only when you already know the Nashville 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 Nashville and Omaha, plus other cities in TN and NE.
