City Comparison
Hastings vs Omaha
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Omaha scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Hastings
Omaha
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Hastings is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
14% lower than in Omaha.
Housing costs are a major driver: Hastings's average rent is
23% lower than Omaha's.
| Metric | Hastings | Omaha | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,122 | $1,450 | -23% |
| Groceries | $400 | $400 | 0% |
| Utilities | $180 | $180 | 0% |
| Transport | $120 | $120 | 0% |
| Healthcare | $250 | $250 | 0% |
| Monthly Total | $2,072 | $2,400 | -14% |
| Cost Index | 85 | 92 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Omaha offers 12% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Omaha delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Hastings is estimated at
$44,880 vs $55,000 in Omaha.
| Metric | Hastings | Omaha |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $57,554 | $65,465 |
| Salary Needed | $44,880 | $55,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 67,711 idx | 71,158 idx |
| Household Income | $64,048 | $73,201 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Hastings runs warmer on average — a 53.4°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Hastings comes out ahead with 284 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Hastings sees 15.8 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Hastings | Omaha |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 53.40°F | °F |
| Summer High | 83.10°F | °F |
| Winter Low | 18.20°F | °F |
| Rainfall | 26.80 in | in |
| Snowfall | 15.80 in | in |
| Sunny Days | 284 | |
| Humidity | % | 65.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Hastings has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
1,500 minutes (25 hours) per year compared to Omaha.
Hastings scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Omaha leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Hastings | Omaha |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 17 min | 20 min |
| Transit Score | 40.0/100 | 30.0/100 |
| Walkability | 40.0/100 | 47.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 45.00 | 30.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Omaha is the larger city
— approximately 0.1x the population of Hastings.
From a growth perspective, Omaha is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Omaha has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Hastings | Omaha |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 25,008 | 494,169 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.10% | 0.84% |
| Median Age | 37.3 | 35.3 |
| Unemployment | 3.10% | 2.90% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Hastings
Advantages
Cost of living is 15% lower than the national average, with housing expenses 27% lower than the national average.
Average commute time is significantly shorter than the national average, around 13.8 to 16.8 minutes.
Violent crime rate is substantially lower than the national average.
Hastings is a regional healthcare center with Mary Lanning Healthcare providing comprehensive services.
Strong agricultural and manufacturing base with established industries like ethanol production and irrigation equipment manufacturing.
Drawbacks
Crime rate is 10% higher than the national average overall, though violent crime is lower.
Walkability and transit scores are low, indicating high car dependency.
A notable percentage of families live below the poverty line (10.2% to 14.3%).
The median household income is lower than the national average.
Climate risk is rated as 'Relatively High' with specific risks like hail and strong winds.
Omaha
Advantages
The cost of living in Omaha is 8.1% lower than the U.S. average, making it highly affordable.
Omaha boasts a low unemployment rate of 2.9% as of May 2026, indicating a strong job market.
The average commute time is relatively short at 19.6 minutes in 2024.
Median household income was $73,201 in 2024, reflecting healthy earning potential.
The city has a diverse and growing economy driven by key sectors like healthcare, finance, and education.
Drawbacks
Omaha has a 'Car-Dependent' Walk Score of 47 and 'Minimal Transit' Transit Score of 30, indicating limited public transportation and walkability options.
Assisted living costs in Omaha, at $6,150 per month in 2024, are higher than the state average.
The city experienced a slight population decline of 0.6% from April 2020 to mid-2025 according to one estimate, though other projections show growth.
While generally safe, like any major city, crime rates can be a concern in specific areas.
Specific job growth rates and new business formation rates for 2024+ were not consistently available, making it difficult to quantify recent economic momentum.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Hastings
#245Nebraska, USA
62.5 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,122
Avg Salary
$57,554
Cost Index
85
Commute
17 min
Transit Score
40.0/100
Walkability
40.0/100
Sunny Days
284/yr
Avg Temp
53.40°F
Pop. Growth
0.10%
Unemployment
3.10%
Livability
74
Business
68
Omaha
#200Nebraska, USA
63.9 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,450
Avg Salary
$65,465
Cost Index
92
Commute
20 min
Transit Score
30.0/100
Walkability
47.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.84%
Unemployment
2.90%
Livability
74
Business
70
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