City comparison
No. Omaha's crime index is 141 versus 261 in Philadelphia, and its violent crime index is 102 versus 252, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Omaha is cheaper. Median rent is $1,187 a month versus $1,397 in Philadelphia.
Safety is where Philadelphia and Omaha split most clearly. Omaha scores 120 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,397 in Philadelphia and $1,187 in Omaha.
Omaha is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Philadelphia and Omaha are 1,091 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,397 a month in Philadelphia to $1,187 a month in Omaha, down $210 a month (15%).
Median household income goes from $61,953 in Philadelphia to $73,201 in Omaha, up $11,248 (18%).
The crime index goes from 261 in Philadelphia to 141 in Omaha, down 120 points (46%).
The move
Omaha and Philadelphia are 1,091 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,187 a month in Omaha to $1,397 a month in Philadelphia, up $210 a month (18%).
Median household income goes from $73,201 in Omaha to $61,953 in Philadelphia, down $11,248 (15%).
The crime index goes from 141 in Omaha to 261 in Philadelphia, up 120 points (85%).
Philadelphia, PA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Omaha, NE
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Philadelphia and Omaha? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
15% cheaper
Omaha rent is 15% cheaper than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
$1,397/mo
Omaha
Winner$1,187/mo
Typical rent runs $1,187 a month in Omaha versus $1,397 in Philadelphia, 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 $2,520, 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 Philadelphia.
Planning to buy in Omaha? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
18% higher
Omaha's median income is 18% higher than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
$61,953
Omaha
Winner$73,201
Median household income is $73,201 in Omaha versus $61,953 in Philadelphia, so typical pay runs 18% higher in Omaha (about $11,248 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. Philadelphia can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
46% lower crime
Omaha's crime index is 46% lower than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
261 (100 = avg)
Omaha
Winner141 (100 = avg)
Omaha's crime index is 141 versus 261 in Philadelphia (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 46% 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. Philadelphia can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
20% more comfortable
Omaha weather is 20% more comfortable than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
54°F avg · 61°F highs · comfort 69/100
Omaha
Winner59°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 83/100
Philadelphia averages about 54°F (61°F highs); Omaha averages about 59°F (68°F highs). Philadelphia averages around 54°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Omaha averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Omaha 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 Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia
On these five categories Omaha takes the scoreboard, so you should not choose Philadelphia because the stats are kinder. They are not. Choose Philadelphia only if a job offer, family, a specific neighborhood, or a life you already started there outweighs the box score. Plenty of good moves ignore the aggregate; just do it on purpose.
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 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 46% lower than Philadelphia (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.
Bottom line
Philadelphia carries the heavier crime signal on this page (31/100 safety vs 50/100 in Omaha). That 19-point spread matters more than the $210 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Safety still diverges (50/100 in Omaha vs 31/100 in Philadelphia), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $73,201 in Omaha versus $61,953 in Philadelphia.
If safety drives your move, Omaha is the stronger match (50/100 safety versus 31/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Philadelphia, treat $1,397/month rent and $61,953 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Philadelphia and Omaha, plus other cities in PA and NE.
