City comparison
No. Newark's crime index is 136 versus 141 in Omaha, and its violent crime index is 159 versus 102, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Omaha is cheaper. Median rent is $1,187 a month versus $1,392 in Newark.
The income gap between Omaha and Newark is significant: $73,201 median household versus $52,060. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,187 in Omaha and $1,392 in Newark.
Omaha is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Newark 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.
Visit both if you can. Cities reveal themselves in the ordinary moments, a Tuesday morning commute, a Saturday errand run, not on a weekend visit.
The move
Omaha and Newark are 1,133 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,187 a month in Omaha to $1,392 a month in Newark, up $205 a month (17%).
Median household income goes from $73,201 in Omaha to $52,060 in Newark, down $21,141 (29%).
The crime index goes from 141 in Omaha to 136 in Newark, down 5 points (4%).
The move
Newark and Omaha are 1,133 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,392 a month in Newark to $1,187 a month in Omaha, down $205 a month (15%).
Median household income goes from $52,060 in Newark to $73,201 in Omaha, up $21,141 (41%).
The crime index goes from 136 in Newark to 141 in Omaha, up 5 points (4%).
Omaha, NE
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Newark, NJ
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Omaha and Newark? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
15% cheaper
Omaha rent is 15% cheaper than Newark
Omaha
Winner$1,187/mo
Newark
$1,392/mo
Typical rent runs $1,187 a month in Omaha versus $1,392 in Newark, so Omaha is 15% 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 $2,460, 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 Newark.
Planning to buy in Omaha? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
41% higher
Omaha's median income is 41% higher than Newark
Omaha
Winner$73,201
Newark
$52,060
Median household income is $73,201 in Omaha versus $52,060 in Newark, so typical pay runs 41% higher in Omaha (about $21,141 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. Newark can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
4% lower crime
Newark's crime index is 4% lower than Omaha
Omaha
141 (100 = avg)
Newark
Winner136 (100 = avg)
Newark's crime index is 136 versus 141 in Omaha (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 4% lower in Newark. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Newark, 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
25% more comfortable
Omaha weather is 25% more comfortable than Newark
Omaha
Winner60°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 86/100
Newark
54°F avg · 60°F highs · comfort 69/100
Omaha averages about 60°F (69°F highs); Newark averages about 54°F (60°F highs). Omaha averages around 60°F. Newark averages around 54°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Omaha scores 25% 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 Newark 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
Omaha is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 15% 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.
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 41% higher ($73,201), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 60°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
Newark is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 4% lower than Omaha (136 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
This pair is really a paycheck comparison: Omaha at $73,201 median income versus $52,060 in Newark. Housing ($1,392 in Newark, $1,187 in Omaha) is secondary unless you are rent-burdened already.
Weather averages land near 60°F in Omaha and 54°F in Newark.
Omaha clears the bar on local pay in this dataset. Newark deserves a serious look only when keeping rent near $1,392/month beats chasing $73,201 median income.
Typical rent stays $1,187 in Omaha and $1,392 in Newark.
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 Omaha and Newark, plus other cities in NE and NJ.
