City Comparison
Papillion vs Omaha
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Papillion scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Papillion
Omaha
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Omaha is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
14% lower than in Papillion.
Housing costs are a major driver: Papillion's average rent is
24% higher than Omaha's.
| Metric | Papillion | Omaha | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,800 | $1,450 | +24% |
| Groceries | $450 | $400 | +13% |
| Utilities | $180 | $180 | 0% |
| Transport | $120 | $120 | 0% |
| Healthcare | $250 | $250 | 0% |
| Monthly Total | $2,800 | $2,400 | +17% |
| Cost Index | 104 | 92 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Omaha offers 1% 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 Papillion is estimated at
$55,000 vs $55,000 in Omaha.
| Metric | Papillion | Omaha |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $65,000 | $65,465 |
| Salary Needed | $55,000 | $55,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 62,500 idx | 71,158 idx |
| Household Income | $111,679 | $73,201 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Papillion runs warmer on average — a 53.3°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Papillion comes out ahead with 271 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Papillion sees 21.9 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Papillion | Omaha |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 53.30°F | °F |
| Summer High | 84.40°F | °F |
| Winter Low | 17.40°F | °F |
| Rainfall | 32.40 in | in |
| Snowfall | 21.90 in | in |
| Sunny Days | 271 | |
| Humidity | 65.00% | 65.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Omaha has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
1,500 minutes (25 hours) per year compared to Papillion.
Papillion scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Papillion leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Papillion | Omaha |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 23 min | 20 min |
| Transit Score | 55.0/100 | 30.0/100 |
| Walkability | 60.0/100 | 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 Papillion.
From a growth perspective, Papillion is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Papillion has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Papillion | Omaha |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 25,244 | 494,169 |
| Pop. Growth | 4.44% | 0.84% |
| Median Age | 41.1 | 35.3 |
| Unemployment | 2.20% | 2.90% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Papillion
Advantages
Strong median household income of $111,679, significantly above the national average.
Low violent crime rate, 94% below the national average.
High homeownership rate of 73.9%.
Significant employment growth of 4.44% from 2023 to 2024.
Highly-rated public schools within the Papillion-La Vista Public School District.
Drawbacks
Car-dependent lifestyle with limited public transportation options.
Housing costs are 17% higher than the national average.
Commute times can be challenging, especially for north-south travel.
Property taxes can be higher than expected.
Limited affordable resale inventory in some price points.
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.
Papillion
#24Nebraska, USA
72.8 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,800
Avg Salary
$65,000
Cost Index
104
Commute
23 min
Transit Score
55.0/100
Walkability
60.0/100
Sunny Days
271/yr
Avg Temp
53.30°F
Pop. Growth
4.44%
Unemployment
2.20%
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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