New search

City comparison

Omaha, NE vs Arlington, TX

Is Omaha safer than Arlington?

No. Arlington's crime index is 132 versus 141 in Omaha, and its violent crime index is 130 versus 102, using 2024-2025 FBI data.

Omaha is cheaper. Median rent is $1,187 a month versus $1,470 in Arlington.

Omaha and Arlington 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 $1,187 in Omaha and $1,470 in Arlington, and median household income lands at $73,201 versus $75,171. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.

Arlington is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Omaha makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Arlington 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

Moving from Omaha to Arlington

Omaha and Arlington are 592 miles apart in a straight line.

Median rent goes from $1,187 a month in Omaha to $1,470 a month in Arlington, up $283 a month (24%).

Median household income goes from $73,201 in Omaha to $75,171 in Arlington, up $1,970 (3%).

The crime index goes from 141 in Omaha to 132 in Arlington, down 9 points (6%).

The move

Moving from Arlington to Omaha

Arlington and Omaha are 592 miles apart in a straight line.

Median rent goes from $1,470 a month in Arlington to $1,187 a month in Omaha, down $283 a month (19%).

Median household income goes from $75,171 in Arlington to $73,201 in Omaha, down $1,970 (3%).

The crime index goes from 132 in Arlington to 141 in Omaha, up 9 points (7%).

Omaha, NE

Rent
$1,187/mo
HUD 2-bedroom FMR
$1,450/mo
Median income
73,201
Crime index
141
Weather
59°F

School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.

Arlington, TX

Rent
$1,470/mo
HUD 2-bedroom FMR
$1,745/mo
Median income
75,171
Crime index
132
Weather
67°F

School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.

Comparing Omaha and Arlington? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.

Rent

19% cheaper

Omaha rent is 19% cheaper than Arlington

Omaha

Winner

$1,187/mo

Arlington

$1,470/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,187 a month in Omaha versus $1,470 in Arlington, 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 $3,396, 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 Arlington.

Planning to buy in Arlington? Check mortgage rates before you decide.

Median income

3% higher

Arlington's median income is 3% higher than Omaha

Omaha

$73,201

Arlington

Winner

$75,171

What this means for your life

Median household income is $75,171 in Arlington versus $73,201 in Omaha, so typical pay runs 3% higher in Arlington (about $1,970 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

Arlington's crime index is 6% lower than Omaha

Omaha

141 (100 = avg)

Arlington

Winner

132 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Arlington's crime index is 132 versus 141 in Omaha (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 6% lower in Arlington. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Arlington, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Omaha. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.

Typical weather

20% more comfortable

Arlington weather is 20% more comfortable than Omaha

Omaha

59°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 83/100

Arlington

Winner

67°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 100/100

What this means for your life

Omaha averages about 59°F (68°F highs); Arlington averages about 67°F (74°F highs). Omaha averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Arlington sits near 67°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Arlington 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

Who should choose Omaha

People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Omaha

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.

Open the Omaha report →

Fit check

Who should choose Arlington

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 3% higher ($75,171), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 67°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.

Arlington 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 Omaha (132 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.

Open the Arlington report →

Bottom line

Omaha vs Arlington: Our Take

Rent is the clearest fork: Omaha at $1,187/month versus $1,470 in Arlington ($283 apart). Arlington median income is $75,171 against $73,201 in Omaha, so the cheaper lease does not always pair with the stronger local wage base.

Omaha rent at $1,187/month is still below Arlington's $1,470, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.

Safety scores read 50/100 in Omaha and 52/100 in Arlington.

Omaha clears the bar on housing cost in this dataset. Arlington deserves a serious look only when your $75,171 income offer in Arlington outweighs saving $283/month in Omaha.

Common questions

Omaha vs Arlington FAQ

Is Omaha cheaper than Arlington?
Yes. Typical rent in Omaha is $1,187 a month versus $1,470 in Arlington (19% cheaper). Median household income is $73,201 in Omaha compared with $75,171 in Arlington, so Arlington has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Omaha or Arlington?
Arlington is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 132 versus 141 in Omaha (6% lower; 100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.
Which city has better schools, Omaha or Arlington?
School quality varies by neighborhood in Omaha. Check GreatSchools.org or your local district for current ratings before you choose a ZIP. The same applies in Arlington. We do not publish a citywide school grade comparison because we do not yet have a verified public school-quality feed.

Ready to move to Arlington?

Next steps

Tools for your move

Quotes and listings for Arlington when you're ready to act.

Keep researching

Explore more comparisons

Nearby research

Related Cities

Open full neighborhood reports for Omaha and Arlington, plus other cities in NE and TX.