City comparison
No. Plano's crime index is 62 versus 141 in Omaha, and its violent crime index is 43 versus 102, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Omaha is cheaper. Median rent is $1,187 a month versus $1,841 in Plano.
Safety is where Omaha and Plano split most clearly. Plano scores 79 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 $1,841 in Plano.
Plano 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 Plano 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
Omaha and Plano are 571 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,187 a month in Omaha to $1,841 a month in Plano, up $654 a month (55%).
Median household income goes from $73,201 in Omaha to $112,253 in Plano, up $39,052 (53%).
The crime index goes from 141 in Omaha to 62 in Plano, down 79 points (56%).
The move
Plano and Omaha are 571 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,841 a month in Plano to $1,187 a month in Omaha, down $654 a month (36%).
Median household income goes from $112,253 in Plano to $73,201 in Omaha, down $39,052 (35%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Plano to 141 in Omaha, up 79 points (127%).
Omaha, NE
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Plano, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Omaha and Plano? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
36% cheaper
Omaha rent is 36% cheaper than Plano
Omaha
Winner$1,187/mo
Plano
$1,841/mo
Typical rent runs $1,187 a month in Omaha versus $1,841 in Plano, so Omaha is 36% cheaper. That's roughly $654/month back in your pocket ($7,848/year). Over five years that's $39,240 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 Plano, 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 Plano? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
53% higher
Plano's median income is 53% higher than Omaha
Omaha
$73,201
Plano
Winner$112,253
Median household income is $112,253 in Plano versus $73,201 in Omaha, so typical pay runs 53% higher in Plano (about $39,052 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, Plano is the stronger labor market on paper. Omaha can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
56% lower crime
Plano's crime index is 56% lower than Omaha
Omaha
141 (100 = avg)
Plano
Winner62 (100 = avg)
Plano's crime index is 62 versus 141 in Omaha (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 56% lower in Plano. 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, Plano is the easier city. Omaha can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
20% more comfortable
Plano weather is 20% more comfortable than Omaha
Omaha
59°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 83/100
Plano
Winner69°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Omaha averages about 59°F (68°F highs); Plano averages about 69°F (77°F highs). Omaha averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Plano sits near 69°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Plano 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
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 36% 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.
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 53% higher ($112,253), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 69°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Plano is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 56% lower than Omaha (62 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
Omaha carries the heavier crime signal on this page (50/100 safety vs 75/100 in Plano). That 25-point spread matters more than the $654 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Plano still pays more locally ($112,253 median income vs $73,201), which can offset the lease if your field pays Plano rates.
Median income is $112,253 in Plano versus $73,201 in Omaha.
Pick Plano when you want the stronger safety signal (75/100). Otherwise, Omaha's case rests on a Omaha ZIP you trust at $1,187 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Omaha and Plano, plus other cities in NE and TX.
