Omaha receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Omaha
Lincoln
Opportunity
90 · Top 1%
vs85 · Top 4%
Growth
72 · Top 15%
vs63 · Top 29%
Climate
59 · Bottom 21%
vs57 · Bottom 16%
Physical resilience
62 · Top 45%
vs73 · Top 28%
Housing affordability
98 · Top 25%
vs93 · Top 44%
Access
97 · Top 20%
vs95 · Top 27%
Economic stability
91 · Top 6%
vs86 · Top 10%
Measured values
| Metric | Omaha | Lincoln | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 982,064 | 344,337 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $84,829 | $75,049 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $45,491 | $40,917 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 226/sq mi | 244/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $268,600 | $273,500 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,192 | $1,082 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 66.2% | 59.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.1% | 2.9% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 1.0% | 0.3% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 39.3% | 41.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 10.0% | 11.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 7,022 | 2,088 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 7.2 | 6.1 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -0.8% | -13.1% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 85°F | 89°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 15°F | 14°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 6 mi | 6 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 22.3 min | 20.8 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 36.6 | 34.5 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Omaha
Elevated or high exposure: hail, tornado, heat wave.
Lincoln
Elevated or high exposure: hail, strong wind, tornado.
Full profiles: Omaha, NE-IA Metro Area · Lincoln, NE Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology