Des Moines, IA vs Omaha, NE
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Jun 2026
Report card
| Category | Des MoinesDes Moines, IA | OmahaOmaha, NE | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | |||
| Affluence | Soft | Average | |
| Cost of Living | |||
| Crime | Elevated | Elevated | Same |
| Education | |||
| Quality of Life | Great | Good | |
| Sovereignty | Self-Reliant | Self-Reliant | |
| Strategic | Exposed | Vulnerable |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
16 traffic deaths per 100,000 people occur in Des Moines, IA, compared with 7 in Omaha, NE, a 2.3× higher rate, based on 2023 Census figures. Omaha’s per-capita income of $42,515 is 17% higher than Des Moines’ $36,459, and the comfortable income for a family of 4 in Omaha is $65,715 versus $52,464 in Des Moines, a 25% difference. Omaha also reports a bachelor’s degree or higher rate of 40.3%, which is 11.3 points higher than Des Moines’ 29.0%, placing Omaha in the 67th percentile and Des Moines in the 42nd percentile for that metric.
Job growth over the past year in Des Moines was +1.3%, while Omaha experienced a -0.2% decline, a 1.5-point difference that puts Des Moines in the 59th percentile and Omaha in the 17th. Violent crime per 100,000 people is 641 in Des Moines, 85% higher than Omaha’s 346, with Des Moines in the 91st percentile and Omaha in the 70th. The nearest large city to Des Moines is 309 miles away, whereas Omaha is just 6 miles from its nearest large city, a 303-mile gap that gives Omaha a C grade for target proximity and Des Moines an F. Both cities share an F grade for national disaster risk, and their property crime rates are similar at 2,825 and 2,776 per 100,000.
AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them. Generated Oct 2026.
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Where they differ most
Cost of living
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | Omaha, NE | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 8029th pctl | 9241st pctl | Cost of living index (100 = US): Des Moines, IA 80; Omaha, NE 92; Omaha is 15% higher. |
| Home valueMedian home value | $183,70023rd pctl | $230,10037th pctl | Median home value: Des Moines, IA $183,700; Omaha, NE $230,100; Omaha is 25% higher. |
| Median rent | $1,05437th pctl | $1,15045th pctl | Median rent: Des Moines, IA $1,054; Omaha, NE $1,150; Omaha is 9% higher. |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $63,96636th pctl | $72,70850th pctl | Median household income: Des Moines, IA $63,966; Omaha, NE $72,708; Omaha is 14% higher. |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $35,69023rd pctl | $44,70437th pctl | Comfortable income (single): Des Moines, IA $35,690; Omaha, NE $44,704; Omaha is 25% higher. |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $52,46423rd pctl | $65,71537th pctl | Comfortable income (family of 4): Des Moines, IA $52,464; Omaha, NE $65,715; Omaha is 25% higher. |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Affordable | Affordable | About the same |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in Omaha needs about
$86,300
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 80 vs 92). Leaves out taxes, groceries and transport. How it works →
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
Jobs & income
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | Omaha, NE | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 3.2%29th pctl | 3.0%21st pctl | About the same |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | +1.3%59th pctl | -0.2%17th pctl | Job growth (YoY): Des Moines, IA +1.3%; Omaha, NE -0.2%; Des Moines is 1.5 points higher. |
| Per-capita income | $36,45945th pctl | $42,51563rd pctl | Per-capita income: Des Moines, IA $36,459; Omaha, NE $42,515; Omaha is 17% higher. |
| Poverty rate | 14.9%66th pctl | 12.8%56th pctl | Poverty rate: Des Moines, IA 14.9%; Omaha, NE 12.8%; Des Moines is 2.1 points higher. |
| CommuteAverage commute | 19.6 min25th pctl | 19.6 min25th pctl | About the same |
| Work from home | 11.4%54th pctl | 13.6%65th pctl | Work from home: Des Moines, IA 11.4%; Omaha, NE 13.6%; Omaha is 2.2 points higher. |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Weak | Stable | About the same |
| Job market | Strong | Strong | About the same |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | Omaha, NE | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 64191st pctl | 34670th pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Des Moines, IA 641; Omaha, NE 346; Des Moines is 85% higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 2,82590th pctl | 2,77690th pctl | About the same |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Flat | Rising | |
| Crime & safety | Fair | Fair | About the same |
| Traffic safety | SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Very SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Traffic safety: Des Moines, IA B+; Omaha, NE A+; Omaha is graded higher. |
Data: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
Quality of life
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | Omaha, NE | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air quality | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| ClimateClimate comfort | Comfortable | Comfortable | About the same |
| HealthcareHealthcare access | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| Tap water | Clean | Clean | About the same |
| Power grid | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | About the same |
| HomesteadingHomesteading potential | Prime | Prime | About the same |
| Disaster riskNational disaster risk | High-Risk | High-Risk | About the same |
3 rows not shown: broadband, walkability and local food access aren't available for either place.
Data: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
Taxes & laws
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | Omaha, NE | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxes | ModerateState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ModerateState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | About the same |
| HomeschoolHomeschool rules | noneState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | moderateState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| FirearmsFirearm laws grade | AState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | C+State figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| Property rightsProperty rights (eminent domain) | B-State figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | D+State figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| EnergyEnergy production | ImporterState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ImporterState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. |
Data: Tax Foundation, state statutes.
Strategic location
How exposed each place is to large-scale disruption, based on distance from big cities, likely targets and natural hazards.
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | Omaha, NE | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 309 mi67th pctl | 6 mi6th pctl | Nearest large city: Des Moines, IA 309 mi; Omaha, NE 6 mi; Des Moines is 303 mi higher. |
| Target proximity | Poor | Weak | Target proximity: Des Moines, IA F; Omaha, NE C; Omaha is graded higher. |
| To borderDistance to international border | 476 mi66th pctl | 525 mi72nd pctl | Distance to international border: Des Moines, IA 476 mi; Omaha, NE 525 mi; Omaha is 10% higher. |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 803 mi89th pctl | 794 mi89th pctl | About the same |
| StrategicStrategic location | Exposed | Vulnerable | Strategic location: Des Moines, IA C; Omaha, NE D; Des Moines is graded higher. |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | Omaha, NE | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 212,46496th pctl | 488,19798th pctl | Population: Des Moines, IA 212,464; Omaha, NE 488,197; Omaha is 2.3 times larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 2,41069th pctl | 3,41482nd pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Des Moines, IA 2,410; Omaha, NE 3,414; Omaha is 42% higher. |
| Median age | 34.623rd pctl | 35.327th pctl | About the same |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.0%42nd pctl | 40.3%67th pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: Des Moines, IA 29.0%; Omaha, NE 40.3%; Omaha is 11.3 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 2.331st pctl | 2.443rd pctl | About the same |
More about Des Moines's residents · Omaha's residents
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
Politics
Information only. Not part of any grade, difference or summary on this page.
| Measure | Des MoinesDes Moines, IA | OmahaOmaha, NE |
|---|---|---|
| Cook PVI | R+2 | D+3 |
| 2024 presidential | – | D +4.0 pts |
Full politics data: Des Moines · Omaha
Moving between Des Moines and Omaha
- Median rent: $1,054 in Des Moines, $1,150 in Omaha
- Median home value: $183,700 in Des Moines, $230,100 in Omaha
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 80 in Des Moines, 92 in Omaha
- Median household income: $63,966 in Des Moines, $72,708 in Omaha
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $52,464 in Des Moines, $65,715 in Omaha
- Unemployment: 3.2% in Des Moines, 3.0% in Omaha
- Average commute: 19.6 min in Des Moines, 19.6 min in Omaha
- Violent crime per 100k: 641 in Des Moines, 346 in Omaha
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Compare a different pair
More places like Des Moines and Omaha
- Data: Cost of living: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
- Data: Jobs & income: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
- Data: Safety: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
- Data: Quality of life: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
- Data: Taxes & laws: Tax Foundation, state statutes.
- Data: Strategic location: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
- Data: People: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area.
Narrative content on this page is AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them.
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