Omaha is known for a lot of things. It’s Nebraska’s biggest city, famous for steakhouses, mega-rich Warren Buffet and Berkshire Hathaway, and being home to the College World Series. But you might not know that Omaha also has one of the premier zoos in the world, Henry Doorly Zoo, amazing sandwiches, like the runza and the reuben (sorry, New York, Omaha invented it!), and loads of live music to ensure you’ll never get bored.
So we’ve established that Omaha is a great place to live, but where can you find the best neighborhoods? Well, by looking at census data and compiling our own SnackAbility scores for each neighborhood, we’ve found the neighborhoods that are sure to put a lasting smile on your face. The places with low crime, high salaries, nice homes, low unemployment, and an abundance of entertainment and activity. Determining which of these neighborhoods is the best for you and your situation comes down to priorities.
Do you want to live in a neighborhood with ritzy, expensive homes, where folks bring home big paychecks? Then South Central Omaha is where you want to go. Are history and affordability important to you? Florence has you covered, being one of the city’s oldest locales and the only neighborhood on the list where you can snag a home for under $100,000. And if you want to be apart from the hustle and bustle of Omaha’s downtown, Northwest Omaha is a safe bet.
Wherever you end up, know that you’ll be living in a place where farm-to-fork culture is prevalent, so get ready for some healthy eating (interspersed with some of the best steaks you’ve ever tasted).
And don’t count Omaha as part of “flyover country,” because this hip young city is also emerging as one of America’s new tech hot spots. Silicon Valley can step aside, because, with plenty of job opportunities and a more laid-back culture, Omaha is an easy choice for a young professional.
So just where are the best neighborhoods in Omaha? Get your order into Runza, get ready to talk investment strategy with Warren Buffet, and snag some tickets for this year’s College World Series, because we’re heading to the best neighborhoods Omaha has to offer.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
We’re not saying these are the only Omaha neighborhoods worth living in, but you’d better believe that a higher quality of life awaits you if you settle down in one. No matter where you end up, be sure to pay a visit to the troll that lives under Bob, a 3,000-foot pedestrian bridge floating over the Missouri River that connects more than 150 miles of hiking and biking trails. We promise it’s worth your time.
While there are plenty of great neighborhoods to call home in Omaha, there can be only one gold medal winner. So what is the best neighborhood in Omaha for 2024? Looking at census data and our own SnackAbility scores, we’ve determined that Dundee is the very best neighborhood you can find in Omaha.
Surprised by which Omaha neighborhoods topped our list? Or are you a local who wants to see how your little slice of Omaha fared in our rankings? Check out the comprehensive rankings of Omaha neighborhoods below to find out.
For more Nebraska reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In Nebraska
- Cheapest Places To Live In Nebraska
- Most Dangerous Cities In Nebraska
The 10 Best Neighborhoods To Live In Omaha
1. Dundee
Population: 6,298
Median Home Value: $296,365 (Second best)
Median Income: $69,233 (Eighth best)
More on Dundee: Real Estate
2. Fairacres
Population: 11,071
Median Home Value: $230,379 (Fifth best)
Median Income: $72,774 (Sixth best)
More on Fairacres: Real Estate
3. Cathedral
Population: 6,165
Median Home Value: $147,219 (13th best)
Median Income: $34,052 (22nd best)
More on Cathedral: Real Estate
4. Field Club
Population: 3,413
Median Home Value: $146,690 (14th best)
Median Income: $33,985 (23rd best)
More on Field Club: Real Estate
5. Downtown
Population: 33,997
Median Home Value: $129,096 (16th best)
Median Income: $36,715 (2best)
More on Downtown: Real Estate
6. Near South
Population: 7,172
Median Home Value: $111,076 (19th best)
Median Income: $40,336 (19th best)
More on Near South: Real Estate
7. Central
Population: 40,073
Median Home Value: $199,799 (Sixth best)
Median Income: $58,956 (11th best)
More on Central: Real Estate
8. Ralston
Population: 21,576
Median Home Value: $161,085 (Tenth best)
Median Income: $58,643 (12th best)
More on Ralston: Real Estate
9. Keystone
Population: 4,917
Median Home Value: $127,689 (17th best)
Median Income: $54,890 (14th best)
More on Keystone: Real Estate
10. West Omaha
Population: 38,223
Median Home Value: $290,126 (Third best)
Median Income: $76,626 (Fifth best)
More on West Omaha: Real Estate
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Omaha, NE Neighborhoods In 2024
To rank the best neighborhoods in Omaha, we had to determine what criteria define “best” and then apply Saturday Night Science to it.
Using FBI crime, Census, and extrapolated BLS data, we arrived at the following set of criteria:
- High incomes
- Low unemployment rates
- Low crime
- High home prices
- High population densities (A proxy for things to do)
We then ranked each neighborhood with scores from 1 to 23 in each category, where 1 was the best.
Next, we averaged the rankings for each neighborhood to create a best neighborhood index.
And finally, we crowned the neighborhood with the lowest best neighborhood index, the “Best City Neighborhood In Omaha.” We’re lookin’ at you, Dundee.
Read on below to learn more about what it’s like to live in the best places Omaha, Nebraska has to offer. Or skip to the end to see the list of all the neighborhoods in the city, from best to worst.
We updated this article for 2024. This report is our tenth time ranking the best neighborhoods to live in Omaha.
Summary: Putting A Bow On Our Analysis Of The Best Neighborhoods In Omaha
If you’re measuring the neighborhoods in Omaha where crime is low and everyone wants to live, this is an accurate list.
The best neighborhoods in Omaha are Dundee, Fairacres, Cathedral, Field Club, Downtown, Near South, Central, Ralston, Keystone, and West Omaha.
As mentioned earlier, the neighborhoods in Omaha aren’t all good. Florence takes the title of the worst neighborhood to live in Omaha.
The worst neighborhoods in Omaha are Florence, Aksarben, Rockbrook, North Omaha, and Southwest Omaha.
We ranked the neighborhoods from best to worst in the chart below.
For more Nebraska reading, check out:
Best Neighborhoods To Live In Omaha For 2024 Detailed Data
| Rank | Neighborhood | Population | Home Value | Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dundee | 6,298 | $296,365 | $69,233 |
| 2 | Fairacres | 11,071 | $230,379 | $72,774 |
| 3 | Cathedral | 6,165 | $147,219 | $34,052 |
| 4 | Field Club | 3,413 | $146,690 | $33,985 |
| 5 | Downtown | 33,997 | $129,096 | $36,715 |
| 6 | Near South | 7,172 | $111,076 | $40,336 |
| 7 | Central | 40,073 | $199,799 | $58,956 |
| 8 | Ralston | 21,576 | $161,085 | $58,643 |
| 9 | Keystone | 4,917 | $127,689 | $54,890 |
| 10 | West Omaha | 38,223 | $290,126 | $76,626 |
| 11 | Old Market | 6,580 | $72,349 | $41,544 |
| 12 | Westside | 2,346 | $190,189 | $103,819 |
| 13 | Southeast Omaha | 73,909 | $107,391 | $45,019 |
| 14 | Millard | 21,911 | $189,348 | $82,944 |
| 15 | Northwest Omaha | 50,085 | $149,921 | $63,381 |
| 16 | South Central Omaha | 3,899 | $351,715 | $90,147 |
| 17 | Benson | 8,646 | $111,196 | $39,809 |
| 18 | Holy Cross | 5,259 | $149,133 | $58,275 |
| 19 | Southwest Omaha | 41,418 | $162,630 | $84,873 |
| 20 | North Omaha | 86,948 | $105,149 | $41,793 |
| 21 | Rockbrook | 5,265 | $232,682 | $65,146 |
| 22 | Aksarben | 5,421 | $136,769 | $53,419 |
| 23 | Florence | 490 | $88,009 | $70,517 |