Best for affordability: Ames, Iowa
Ames, Iowa looks like the easiest place here to live with less financial drag. It comes out ahead on rent and home price.
Demand-Backed Comparison
Compare Ames vs Omaha on cost, climate, safety, and daily life
People have logged this comparison 2 times on WhyThere. The cards open full city pages. The charts and matrix below are the fast side-by-side read on housing, climate, walkability, safety, schools, parks, and day-to-day tradeoffs.
AmesOmaha
What Stands Out
A quick read on this comparison
Deterministic summaries based on the data in view.
Biggest tradeoff: Ames, Iowa
Ames, Iowa is the sharpest split in this comparison: strong on daily convenience, weaker on sunshine.
Potential dealbreaker: Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha, Nebraska needs a closer look before you get too attached, especially on tax burden.
Comparison Matrix
| City | ||
|---|---|---|
| Route | ||
| General Info | ||
| Population | 65,060 | 486,051 |
| Population Density | N/A | 3.4k /sq mi |
| Elevation | 942 ft(287 m) | 1,060 ft(323 m) |
| Housing & Wealth | ||
| Median Home | $266,556 | $284,563 |
| Median Rent | $1,194 | $1,385 |
| Median Income | $57,428 | $70,202 |
| Rent Burden | 25% | 24% |
| Climate & Risks | ||
| Sunny Days | 301 days/yr | 315 days/yr |
| Avg. High | 60°F | 63°F |
| Comfort Score | 46/100Mixed | 49/100Mixed |
| Temp Swing | 55°F | 54°F |
| Annual Rainfall | 34"(86 cm) | 28"(71 cm) |
| Annual Snowfall | 10"(25 cm) | 8"(20 cm) |
| Air Quality | AQI 39 (Avg)1 days > 100 | AQI 40 (Avg)1 days > 100 |
| Infrastructure & Lifestyle | ||
| Walk Score | 45 | 45 |
| Transit Score | N/A | 51 |
| Safety Score | 77 / 100 | 62 / 100 |
| School Rating | 6.8/10 | 6.2/10 |
| Flood Risk (FEMA) | N/A | minimalMinimal Risk |
| Fire Risk (FEMA) | N/A | minimalMinimal |
| Internet Access | Fiber: 80%Cable: 92% | Fiber: 57%Cable: 98% |
| Demographics | ||
| Median Age | 23 years | 35.1 years |
| College Educated | 63% | 39% |
| Remote Workers | 10% | 12% |
| Nature Access | ||
| Local Nature & Reserves | Finding... | Finding... |
| Scouting & Local Help | ||
Plan a first lookWays to plan a first visit or connect with a relevant local partner. | Featured Local Partner ADYour logo Partner spot available For organizations that can help someone land in Ames | Featured Local Partner ADYour logo Partner spot available For organizations that can help someone land in Omaha |
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