City comparison
Yes. Omaha's crime index is 141 versus 341 in Cleveland, and its violent crime index is 102 versus 425, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Cleveland is cheaper. Median rent is $1,060 a month versus $1,187 in Omaha.
Safety is where Omaha and Cleveland split most clearly. Omaha scores 200 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,187 in Omaha and $1,060 in Cleveland.
Omaha is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Cleveland 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 Cleveland has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Omaha and Cleveland are 738 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,187 a month in Omaha to $1,060 a month in Cleveland, down $127 a month (11%).
Median household income goes from $73,201 in Omaha to $64,468 in Cleveland, down $8,733 (12%).
The crime index goes from 141 in Omaha to 341 in Cleveland, up 200 points (142%).
The move
Cleveland and Omaha are 738 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,060 a month in Cleveland to $1,187 a month in Omaha, up $127 a month (12%).
Median household income goes from $64,468 in Cleveland to $73,201 in Omaha, up $8,733 (14%).
The crime index goes from 341 in Cleveland to 141 in Omaha, down 200 points (59%).
Omaha, NE
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Cleveland, OH
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Omaha and Cleveland? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
11% cheaper
Cleveland rent is 11% cheaper than Omaha
Omaha
$1,187/mo
Cleveland
Winner$1,060/mo
Typical rent runs $1,060 a month in Cleveland versus $1,187 in Omaha, so Cleveland 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 $1,524, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Cleveland 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
14% higher
Omaha's median income is 14% higher than Cleveland
Omaha
Winner$73,201
Cleveland
$64,468
Median household income is $73,201 in Omaha versus $64,468 in Cleveland, so typical pay runs 14% higher in Omaha (about $8,733 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. Cleveland can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
59% lower crime
Omaha's crime index is 59% lower than Cleveland
Omaha
Winner141 (100 = avg)
Cleveland
341 (100 = avg)
Omaha's crime index is 141 versus 341 in Cleveland (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 59% 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. Cleveland can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
26% more comfortable
Omaha weather is 26% more comfortable than Cleveland
Omaha
Winner59°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 83/100
Cleveland
53°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 66/100
Omaha averages about 59°F (68°F highs); Cleveland averages about 53°F (58°F highs). Omaha averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Cleveland averages around 53°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Omaha scores 26% 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 Cleveland 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 14% 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 59% lower than Cleveland (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.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Cleveland
Cleveland is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 11% cheaper here at about $1,060 a month. Choose Cleveland if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Omaha leads on safety (50/100 vs 23/100 in Cleveland). Typical rent is $1,187 in Omaha and $1,060 in Cleveland; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Safety still diverges (50/100 in Omaha vs 23/100 in Cleveland), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $73,201 in Omaha versus $64,468 in Cleveland.
Between Omaha and Cleveland, Omaha is ahead on safety — 50/100 safety versus 23/100. Lean Cleveland instead when you already know the Cleveland 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 Omaha and Cleveland, plus other cities in NE and OH.
