Des Moines vs Omaha
Compare Des Moines, IA and Omaha, NE on cost, HUD rent, safety, climate, commute, schools, outdoor access, food, and source-labeled relocation data.
The verdict
Housing costs are close: ACS median rent is $1,063/mo in Des Moines and $1,101/mo in Omaha, with HUD 2-bedroom benchmarks of $1,080/mo and $1,170/mo. Across the four public-data screens (cost/climate, work, daily life, community) the metros land close together (239 vs 241 summed points), so the right pick depends on which tradeoffs you can live with.
Climate is a real differentiator: Des Moines runs summer highs near 86°F and winter lows near 14°F, while Omaha runs 87°F and 6°F. If lower housing cost leads your list, start with Des Moines; if walkable daily life matters more, Omaha screens stronger on the walkability proxy (10 vs 9). These are metro-level public-data screens — verify neighborhoods, school districts, commutes, and actual listings before deciding.
Category summary
Des Moines leads 63 to 58 on the cost and climate screen.
Both cities are close on the work screen.
Both cities are close on the daily life screen.
Omaha leads 67 to 60 on the community screen.
$85,000 in Des Moines is roughly $84,362 in Omaha using WhereToThrive's cost index and state-tax adjustment.
Category comparison
| Metric | Des Moines | Omaha | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACS median gross rent | $1,063/mo | $1,101/mo | Des Moines |
| HUD 2BR FMR | $1,080/mo | $1,170/mo | Des Moines |
| Median home value | $236,000 | $230,000 | Omaha |
| State income tax | 3.8% | 4.5% | Des Moines |
| Average commute | 22.4 min | 22.4 min | Tie |
| Safety score | 62/100 | 66/100 | Omaha |
| School score | 8/10 | 8/10 | Tie |
| Walkability estimate | 9/100 | 10/100 | Omaha |
| Outdoor score | 6/10 | 6/10 | Tie |
| Restaurants per 100k | 175.0 | 175.1 | Omaha |
| Mountain distance | 222 mi | 246 mi | Des Moines |
| Coast distance | 801 mi | 790 mi | Omaha |
What stands out
Des Moines stronger signals
- Public park/protected-area signal within 0 miles
- Ski location within 35 miles
- Strong education proxy
- More affordable than many peer metros
Des Moines tradeoffs
- Higher natural disaster risk
- Cold winters
Omaha stronger signals
- Public park/protected-area signal within 1 miles
- Ski location within 10 miles
- Strong education proxy
- More affordable than many peer metros
Omaha tradeoffs
- Higher natural disaster risk
- Cold winters
Common questions
Is Des Moines cheaper than Omaha?
On public benchmarks Des Moines is the cheaper metro: ACS median rent is $1,063/mo in Des Moines vs $1,101/mo in Omaha; HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents are $1,080/mo vs $1,170/mo; state income tax is 3.8% vs 4.5%.
Is Des Moines or Omaha safer?
Omaha screens safer at the metro level: safety scores are 62/100 for Des Moines and 66/100 for Omaha (FBI-reported metro rates; neighborhood variation is larger than metro averages).
Which is better for families, Des Moines or Omaha?
School screens show 8/10 for Des Moines vs 8/10 for Omaha, alongside the safety scores above. Both screen similarly — district-level research will matter more than the metro gap.
How different is the climate between Des Moines and Omaha?
Des Moines: summer highs near 86°F, winter lows near 14°F, disaster-risk band 3/3. Omaha: 87°F / 6°F, disaster-risk band 3/3 (NOAA climate normals).
Keep researching
Score this comparison with your own constraints
Public comparison pages use equal-weighted signals. The questionnaire reweights cities around your housing budget, climate preferences, work needs, family needs, and daily-life priorities.
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