Relocation profile · Federal data
Omaha, NE-IA
LiveAbility 54.3/100 places Omaha #140 of 387 (middle third).
- 91.9
- Cost index (US=100)
- $1,368
- 2BR rent / mo
- $70,611
- Median salary
- 54.3
- LiveAbility Score
The verdict
As of June 2026, Omaha ranks #140 of 387 US metros on the LiveAbility Score (54.3/100), with its strongest marks in safety and schools.
- #140
- of 387 US metros · Above median
- 2,005,465
- metro-area population
- 217
- violent crimes per 100K (state-level)
- 1,010
- schools in the state (NCES)
Weakest dimension: air quality (21/100). Weigh every dimension against your own priorities, use the City Finder to re-rank by what matters to you.
According to PlainRelocate's LiveAbility composite (BEA, BLS, HUD, FBI, NCES, EPA, NOAA, and FEMA inputs), Omaha ranks #140 of 387 scored US metros by LiveAbility Score (highest score = #1). Cost-of-living index 91.9 (100 = national average), median 2-bedroom rent $1,368/mo, median salary $70,611; LiveAbility Score 54.3/100, strongest in safety and schools.
Signature: LiveAbility 54.3/100 places Omaha #140 of 387 (middle third).
Purchasing power sits mid-band: BEA RPP 91.9 between corpus terciles 91.5 and 97.0. Median 2BR rent $1,368/mo.
LiveAbility 54.3/100 keeps Omaha in the middle third (#140 of 387).
BLS OEWS total employment in the Omaha area is 488,200.
Omaha vs all US metros by LiveAbility Score
Where this metro's LiveAbility Score falls among every scored US metro (composite placement, not a desirability verdict)
54 Top 36% higher than 64% of 387 US metros
Metros banded by LiveAbility Score (0–100)
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source PlainRelocate LiveAbility Score · June 2026
Omaha housing and rent
HUD Fair Market Rents for the Omaha MSA; housing RPP 86.4 (100 = national average); 2BR $1,368/mo.
Omaha wages and employment
Omaha posts 488,200 total employment with median salary $70,611.
Top Occupations by Employment
| Occupation | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,450 |
| Registered Nurses | $84,600 |
| Retail Salespersons | $33,260 |
| General and Operations Managers | $90,620 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $36,810 |
Schools & Education
State-level education data for the Omaha area from NCES.
Childcare Costs
State-average childcare costs for the Omaha area (DOL data).
Life Score Breakdown
Omaha's composite Life Score is 59.6/100 (C-), computed across 7 of 7 dimensions.
LiveAbility Score
View full rankings →Omaha ranks #140 out of 387 metros with a LiveAbility Score of 54.3/100 - a composite of 8 of 8 quality-of-life dimensions from federal data. Customize the weights to match your priorities →
Omaha - dimension scores
Percentile vs all US metros (100 = best in the nation for that dimension)
- Safety
Safety
81 /100
- Schools
Schools
79 /100
- Job market
Job market
70 /100
- Cost of living
Cost of living
64 /100
- Housing
Housing
41 /100
- Low hazard 29
Low hazard
29 /100
- Climate 24
Climate
24 /100
- Air quality 21
Air quality
21 /100
What this shows Omaha's strongest dimensions are safety and schools; its weakest among scored dims is air quality at 21/100. Default weights: cost 18%, jobs & housing 15% each, safety & schools 12%, air & hazard 10%, climate 8%.
Compare Omaha to
Metros near Omaha on cost, LiveAbility, or wages
Nearest out-of-state neighbors to Omaha on BEA RPP, LiveAbility, or BLS median salary, a different lens than the size-ranked list.
Similar cost of living (BEA RPP)
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026
Omaha cost figures follow BEA Regional Price Parities and HUD Fair Market Rents; Omaha wages and LiveAbility inputs follow BLS OEWS plus the federal sources listed in methodology. This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Scores are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation. How this data is sourced.
Verify with BEA → · Verify with BLS → · Verify with HUD → · Verify with NOAA → · Verify with FEMA → · Verify with Census →
Thinking about Omaha?
Omaha runs a $70,611 median salary at a 91.9 cost index, ranking #140 of 387 nationally on LiveAbility.
- See exactly what Omaha's pay and cost figures mean for your own budget. Salary calculator
- Put Omaha head-to-head against another city on the same dimensions. Compare Omaha
- Abilene is the closest related metro in this corpus -- see how it stacks up. Abilene profile
- A cheaper cost index and a higher LiveAbility score don't always point the same direction -- here's how to weigh the trade-off. Cost vs quality guide
Cost, salary and score figures are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation.