City comparison
Yes. Omaha's crime index is 141 versus 303 in Minneapolis, and its violent crime index is 102 versus 314, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Omaha is cheaper. Median rent is $1,187 a month versus $1,371 in Minneapolis.
Safety is where Omaha and Minneapolis split most clearly. Omaha scores 162 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 $1,371 in Minneapolis.
Omaha is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Minneapolis 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 Minneapolis has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Omaha and Minneapolis are 291 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,187 a month in Omaha to $1,371 a month in Minneapolis, up $184 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $73,201 in Omaha to $80,846 in Minneapolis, up $7,645 (10%).
The crime index goes from 141 in Omaha to 303 in Minneapolis, up 162 points (115%).
The move
Minneapolis and Omaha are 291 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,371 a month in Minneapolis to $1,187 a month in Omaha, down $184 a month (13%).
Median household income goes from $80,846 in Minneapolis to $73,201 in Omaha, down $7,645 (9%).
The crime index goes from 303 in Minneapolis to 141 in Omaha, down 162 points (53%).
Omaha, NE
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Minneapolis, MN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Omaha and Minneapolis? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
13% cheaper
Omaha rent is 13% cheaper than Minneapolis
Omaha
Winner$1,187/mo
Minneapolis
$1,371/mo
Typical rent runs $1,187 a month in Omaha versus $1,371 in Minneapolis, so Omaha is 13% 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 $2,208, 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 Minneapolis.
Planning to buy in Omaha? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
10% higher
Minneapolis's median income is 10% higher than Omaha
Omaha
$73,201
Minneapolis
Winner$80,846
Median household income is $80,846 in Minneapolis versus $73,201 in Omaha, so typical pay runs 10% higher in Minneapolis (about $7,645 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
53% lower crime
Omaha's crime index is 53% lower than Minneapolis
Omaha
Winner141 (100 = avg)
Minneapolis
303 (100 = avg)
Omaha's crime index is 141 versus 303 in Minneapolis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 53% 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. Minneapolis can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
15% more comfortable
Omaha weather is 15% more comfortable than Minneapolis
Omaha
Winner59°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 83/100
Minneapolis
55°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 72/100
Omaha averages about 59°F (68°F highs); Minneapolis averages about 55°F (62°F highs). Omaha averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Minneapolis averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Omaha scores 15% 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 Minneapolis 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
Omaha is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 13% 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.
Pick Omaha if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (59°F) beat Minneapolis on this page's weather index by 15%. Minneapolis may pay more or cost less, but Omaha is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Omaha is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 53% lower than Minneapolis (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
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Minneapolis is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 10% higher here ($80,846). Start with Minneapolis if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Bottom line
Crime and safety tilt toward Omaha: Omaha scores 50/100 versus 26/100 in Minneapolis, with typical rent at $1,187 versus $1,371. I would vet the exact ZIP in Minneapolis before trading 24 safety points for housing savings.
With only $184 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Weather averages land near 59°F in Omaha and 55°F in Minneapolis.
Omaha clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Minneapolis deserves a serious look only when you already know the Minneapolis 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 Minneapolis, plus other cities in NE and MN.
