Kansas City, MO vs Omaha, NE
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Jun 2026
Report card
| Category | Kansas CityKansas City, MO | OmahaOmaha, NE | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | |||
| Affluence | Average | Average | Same |
| Cost of Living | Same | ||
| Crime | High Risk | Elevated | |
| Education | |||
| Quality of Life | Good | Good | Same |
| Sovereignty | High Autonomy | Self-Reliant | |
| Strategic | Vulnerable | Vulnerable | Same |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
27 traffic deaths per 100,000 people in Kansas City, MO contrast with 7 in Omaha, NE, a 3.8× difference that marks the widest gap in 2025 FBI data. The same year’s crime figures show Kansas City reporting 1,369 violent crimes per 100,000 people against Omaha’s 346, placing Kansas City in the 99th percentile and Omaha in the 70th percentile for this metric. Property crime follows a similar pattern, with Kansas City at 3,963 per 100,000 versus 2,776 in Omaha, a 43% higher rate.
Unemployment in 2023 Census figures also separates the two: Kansas City’s 3.9% sits 0.9 points above Omaha’s 3.0%, while job growth over the past year shows Kansas City at +1.0% and Omaha at -0.2%. Population density diverges sharply, with Omaha packing 3,414 people per square mile against Kansas City’s 1,616, a 2.1× higher density that places Omaha in the 82nd percentile and Kansas City in the 50th. Healthcare access scores from 2024 give Omaha 100/100 versus Kansas City’s 93/100, a 7-point gap that lands Omaha in the 90th percentile and Kansas City in the 67th.
State and local tax burden in 2023 shows Omaha at 11.5% of income compared with Kansas City’s 9.3%, a 2.2-point difference that puts Omaha in the 75th percentile and Kansas City in the 32nd. Median household income runs $72,708 in Omaha versus $67,449 in Kansas City, an 8% higher figure, while median home values sit close at $230,100 and $227,000. Cost of living indexes are nearly identical at 92 and 93, and median rents of $1,150 and $1,186 fall within the same range.
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 | Kansas City, MO | Omaha, NE | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 9343rd pctl | 9241st pctl | About the same |
| Home valueMedian home value | $227,00037th pctl | $230,10037th pctl | About the same |
| Median rent | $1,18649th pctl | $1,15045th pctl | About the same |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $67,44942nd pctl | $72,70850th pctl | Median household income: Kansas City, MO $67,449; Omaha, NE $72,708; Omaha is 8% higher. |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $44,10236th pctl | $44,70437th pctl | About the same |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $64,83036th pctl | $65,71537th pctl | About the same |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Affordable | Affordable | About the same |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in Omaha needs about
$74,200
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 93 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 | Kansas City, MO | Omaha, NE | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 3.9%62nd pctl | 3.0%21st pctl | Unemployment: Kansas City, MO 3.9%; Omaha, NE 3.0%; Kansas City is 0.9 points higher. |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | +1.0%46th pctl | -0.2%17th pctl | Job growth (YoY): Kansas City, MO +1.0%; Omaha, NE -0.2%; Kansas City is 1.2 points higher. |
| Per-capita income | $40,11257th pctl | $42,51563rd pctl | Per-capita income: Kansas City, MO $40,112; Omaha, NE $42,515; Omaha is 6% higher. |
| Poverty rate | 14.6%64th pctl | 12.8%56th pctl | Poverty rate: Kansas City, MO 14.6%; Omaha, NE 12.8%; Kansas City is 1.8 points higher. |
| CommuteAverage commute | 21.9 min39th pctl | 19.6 min25th pctl | Average commute: Kansas City, MO 21.9 min; Omaha, NE 19.6 min; Kansas City is 2 minutes longer. |
| Work from home | 14.8%69th pctl | 13.6%65th pctl | Work from home: Kansas City, MO 14.8%; Omaha, NE 13.6%; Kansas City is 1.2 points higher. |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Stable | Stable | About the same |
| Job market | Strong | Strong | About the same |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | Kansas City, MO | Omaha, NE | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 1,36999th pctl | 34670th pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Kansas City, MO 1,369; Omaha, NE 346; Kansas City is 4.0 times higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 3,96397th pctl | 2,77690th pctl | Property crime per 100k: Kansas City, MO 3,963; Omaha, NE 2,776; Kansas City is 43% higher. |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Falling | Rising | |
| Crime & safety | Dangerous | Fair | Crime & safety: Kansas City, MO F; Omaha, NE C-; Omaha is graded higher. |
| Traffic safety | DangerousCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Very SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Traffic safety: Kansas City, MO D; Omaha, NE A+; Omaha is graded higher. |
Data: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
Quality of life
| Metric | Kansas City, MO | 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 | Humid | 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 | Kansas City, MO | 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. | Taxes: Kansas City, MO B-; Omaha, NE C-; Kansas City is graded higher. |
| 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 | A-State 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) | CState 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 | Kansas City, MO | Omaha, NE | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 2 mi2nd pctl | 6 mi6th pctl | Nearest large city: Kansas City, MO 2 mi; Omaha, NE 6 mi; Omaha is 3.0 times higher. |
| Target proximity | Poor | Weak | Target proximity: Kansas City, MO D; Omaha, NE C; Omaha is graded higher. |
| To borderDistance to international border | 653 mi87th pctl | 525 mi72nd pctl | Distance to international border: Kansas City, MO 653 mi; Omaha, NE 525 mi; Kansas City is 24% higher. |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 639 mi79th pctl | 794 mi89th pctl | Distance to coastline: Kansas City, MO 639 mi; Omaha, NE 794 mi; Omaha is 24% higher. |
| StrategicStrategic location | Vulnerable | Vulnerable | About the same |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Kansas City, MO | Omaha, NE | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 508,23399th pctl | 488,19798th pctl | About the same |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 1,61650th pctl | 3,41482nd pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Kansas City, MO 1,616; Omaha, NE 3,414; Omaha is 2.1 times higher. |
| Median age | 35.731st pctl | 35.327th pctl | About the same |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 37.8%63rd pctl | 40.3%67th pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: Kansas City, MO 37.8%; Omaha, NE 40.3%; Omaha is 2.5 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 2.328th pctl | 2.443rd pctl | Average household size: Kansas City, MO 2.3; Omaha, NE 2.4; Omaha is 5% larger. |
More about Kansas City'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 | Kansas CityKansas City, MO | OmahaOmaha, NE |
|---|---|---|
| Cook PVI | D+12 | D+3 |
| 2024 presidential | D +24.0 pts | D +4.0 pts |
Full politics data: Kansas City · Omaha
Moving between Kansas City and Omaha
- Median rent: $1,186 in Kansas City, $1,150 in Omaha
- Median home value: $227,000 in Kansas City, $230,100 in Omaha
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 93 in Kansas City, 92 in Omaha
- Median household income: $67,449 in Kansas City, $72,708 in Omaha
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $64,830 in Kansas City, $65,715 in Omaha
- Unemployment: 3.9% in Kansas City, 3.0% in Omaha
- Average commute: 21.9 min in Kansas City, 19.6 min in Omaha
- Violent crime per 100k: 1,369 in Kansas City, 346 in Omaha
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More places like Kansas City 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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