City comparison
Yes. Omaha's crime index is 141 versus 221 in Toledo, and its violent crime index is 102 versus 279, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Toledo is cheaper. Median rent is $934 a month versus $1,187 in Omaha.
Safety is where Omaha and Toledo split most clearly. Omaha scores 80 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 $934 in Toledo.
Omaha is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Toledo 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 rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Toledo at $934 average has pockets that run $734 and others at $1,334: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Omaha and Toledo are 641 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,187 a month in Omaha to $934 a month in Toledo, down $253 a month (21%).
Median household income goes from $73,201 in Omaha to $62,224 in Toledo, down $10,977 (15%).
The crime index goes from 141 in Omaha to 221 in Toledo, up 80 points (57%).
The move
Toledo and Omaha are 641 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $934 a month in Toledo to $1,187 a month in Omaha, up $253 a month (27%).
Median household income goes from $62,224 in Toledo to $73,201 in Omaha, up $10,977 (18%).
The crime index goes from 221 in Toledo to 141 in Omaha, down 80 points (36%).
Omaha, NE
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Toledo, OH
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Omaha and Toledo? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
21% cheaper
Toledo rent is 21% cheaper than Omaha
Omaha
$1,187/mo
Toledo
Winner$934/mo
Typical rent runs $934 a month in Toledo versus $1,187 in Omaha, so Toledo is 21% cheaper. That's roughly $253/month back in your pocket ($3,036/year). Over five years that's $15,180 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 Omaha, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Toledo is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Omaha? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
18% higher
Omaha's median income is 18% higher than Toledo
Omaha
Winner$73,201
Toledo
$62,224
Median household income is $73,201 in Omaha versus $62,224 in Toledo, so typical pay runs 18% higher in Omaha (about $10,977 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. Toledo can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
36% lower crime
Omaha's crime index is 36% lower than Toledo
Omaha
Winner141 (100 = avg)
Toledo
221 (100 = avg)
Omaha's crime index is 141 versus 221 in Toledo (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 36% 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. Toledo can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
36% more comfortable
Omaha weather is 36% more comfortable than Toledo
Omaha
Winner59°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 83/100
Toledo
51°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 61/100
Omaha averages about 59°F (68°F highs); Toledo averages about 51°F (58°F highs). Omaha averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Toledo averages around 51°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Omaha scores 36% 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 Toledo 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 18% 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 36% lower than Toledo (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 Toledo
Toledo is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 21% cheaper here at about $934 a month. Choose Toledo if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Crime and safety tilt toward Omaha: Omaha scores 50/100 versus 36/100 in Toledo, with typical rent at $1,187 versus $934. I would vet the exact ZIP in Toledo before trading 14 safety points for housing savings.
Omaha still pays more locally ($73,201 median income vs $62,224), which can offset the lease if your field pays Omaha rates.
Weather averages land near 59°F in Omaha and 51°F in Toledo.
If safety drives your move, Omaha is the stronger match (50/100 safety versus 36/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Toledo, treat $934/month rent and $62,224 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Omaha and Toledo, plus other cities in NE and OH.
