City comparison
Yes. Omaha's crime index is 141 versus 166 in St Paul, and its violent crime index is 102 versus 160, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Omaha is cheaper. Median rent is $1,187 a month versus $1,281 in St Paul.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Omaha and St Paul. Omaha averages 59°F while St Paul averages 50°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,187 versus $1,281.
Omaha is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. St Paul 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.
Weather is the one thing you cannot negotiate with. Visit St Paul in its coldest stretch before you sign anything.
The move
Omaha and St Paul are 292 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,187 a month in Omaha to $1,281 a month in St Paul, up $94 a month (8%).
Median household income goes from $73,201 in Omaha to $73,394 in St Paul, up $193 (under 1%).
The crime index goes from 141 in Omaha to 166 in St Paul, up 25 points (18%).
The move
St Paul and Omaha are 292 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,281 a month in St Paul to $1,187 a month in Omaha, down $94 a month (7%).
Median household income goes from $73,394 in St Paul to $73,201 in Omaha, down $193 (under 1%).
The crime index goes from 166 in St Paul to 141 in Omaha, down 25 points (15%).
Omaha, NE
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
St Paul, MN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Omaha and St Paul? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
7% cheaper
Omaha rent is 7% cheaper than St Paul
Omaha
Winner$1,187/mo
St Paul
$1,281/mo
Typical rent runs $1,187 a month in Omaha versus $1,281 in St Paul, so Omaha is 7% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $94, or $1,128 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Omaha? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
1% higher
St Paul's median income is 1% higher than Omaha
Omaha
$73,201
St Paul
Winner$73,394
Median household income is $73,394 in St Paul versus $73,201 in Omaha, so typical pay runs 1% higher in St Paul (about $193 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
15% lower crime
Omaha's crime index is 15% lower than St Paul
Omaha
Winner141 (100 = avg)
St Paul
166 (100 = avg)
Omaha's crime index is 141 versus 166 in St Paul (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 15% lower in Omaha. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Omaha, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in St Paul. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
43% more comfortable
Omaha weather is 43% more comfortable than St Paul
Omaha
Winner59°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 83/100
St Paul
50°F avg · 57°F highs · comfort 58/100
Omaha averages about 59°F (68°F highs); St Paul averages about 50°F (57°F highs). Omaha averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. St Paul averages around 50°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Omaha scores 43% 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 St Paul 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 7% 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 St Paul on this page's weather index by 43%. St Paul 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 15% lower than St Paul (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
St Paul is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 1% higher here ($73,394). Start with St Paul if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Bottom line
Weather separates these metros: $1,187/month rent in Omaha at 59°F versus $1,281 in St Paul at 50°F. Income runs $73,201 vs $73,394, but the daily feel of the move is the temperature gap.
With only $94 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Typical rent stays $1,187 in Omaha and $1,281 in St Paul.
Omaha wins on climate (59°F vs 50°F); St Paul is the better fit if $1,281 rent and $73,394 pay matter more than daily weather.
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 St Paul, plus other cities in NE and MN.
