The Town FilesOmaha, Nebraska
City in Douglas County · population 486,051 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $245,500
- Household income
- $73,201
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 27 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 38
- Median age
- 35.3
Omaha is a city of 486,051 people in Douglas County, Nebraska. The median home is worth $245,500, above the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). It ranks more walkable than 99% of Nebraska towns, more vibrant than 99% of Nebraska towns, better transit than 99% of Nebraska towns.
How Omaha ranks
Percentile among Nebraska towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Nebraska towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Omaha is worth $245,500, above the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $73,201, which is more affordable than 6% of Nebraska towns. Median rent is $1,187 a month. 57.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Omaha | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $245,500 | $154,800 |
| Median rent | $1,187 | $818 |
| Median household income | $73,201 | $66,320 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 57.4% | 73.2% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1963 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in Omaha
| People | Omaha | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.3 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.5% | 20.8% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 40.1% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.5% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 5.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 11.3% | — |
| Work from home | 15.1% | 5.2% |
| Average commute | 19.6 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.5% | 87.8% |
Weather in Omaha
July highs average 88.1°F and January lows 15.2°F. About 31.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 27.1 inches of snow (typical Nebraska town: 28.6 in). Expect about 33 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 134 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
38 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Omaha since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Nebraska town. 17 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on April 26, 2024 about 9.9 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 5 deaths and 257 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 17, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 393 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on June 25, 2024.
Severe weather in Douglas County since 1996
Douglas County has been included in 29 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 22, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4896: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| May 21, 2025 | Winter Storm | DR-4868: Severe Winter Storm And Straight-Line Winds |
| October 21, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4838: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| September 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4822: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| August 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4808: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Douglas County
Douglas County had 340,716 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $67,868 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Omaha itself the ACS puts it at 4.2%.
Public schools in Omaha
184 public schools with 90,133 students, about 16.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 2,674 | 22.5 |
| MILLARD SOUTH HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 2,579 | 16.6 |
| MILLARD NORTH HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 2,534 | 17.1 |
| SOUTH HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 2,495 | 18.1 |
| MILLARD WEST HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 2,304 | 17.6 |
| WESTSIDE HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 2,138 | 15.8 |
| BURKE HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,729 | 19.6 |
| NORTH HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,728 | 21.3 |
| NORTHWEST HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,608 | 21.7 |
| BRYAN HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,600 | 18.8 |
| BENSON HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,490 | 19.4 |
| ELKHORN SOUTH HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,407 | 16.2 |
Towns near Omaha
- Ralston, NE4.4 mi · 6,494 people · home $230,800
- La Vista, NE5.6 mi · 16,746 people · home $260,900
- Chalco, NE7.0 mi · 11,064 people · home $238,600
- Carter Lake, IA7.3 mi · 3,791 people · home $169,400
- Papillion, NE8.4 mi · 24,159 people · home $311,000
- Bellevue, NE10.1 mi · 64,176 people · home $247,000
- Council Bluffs, IA10.6 mi · 62,799 people · home $171,800
- Gretna, NE11.9 mi · 5,083 people · home $341,600
Omaha questions
Is Omaha, Nebraska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Omaha scores better for retirees than 3% of Nebraska towns and quieter than 2%. 14.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.3).
How much does a house cost in Omaha?
The median owner-occupied home in Omaha is valued at $245,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $73,201, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $1,187 a month.
What is the weather like in Omaha?
July highs average 88.1°F and January lows 15.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 31.9 inches of precipitation a year and 27.1 inches of snow.
Does Omaha get tornadoes?
38 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Omaha since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on April 26, 2024. The typical Nebraska town has had 23.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)