U.S. News ranked Omaha as 18th on its list of the best places to live in the United States in 2024.
Topping the list of 150 cities were Naples, Florida; Boise, Idaho; and Colorado Springs, Colorado, according to the rankings released Tuesday on the U.S. News website .
The rankings were based on factors including crime rate, quality of education, affordability, the job market, weather and data on where people are moving to, according to the website. A survey of 3,500 people from across the country that asked which cities they would most like to live in was also part of the ranking.
Omaha’s affordability and strong economy appeal to young professionals and its safety, education options and family-friendly activities appeal to those with kids, according to a post on the U.S. News website.
U.S. News noted Omaha’s lower cost of living compared to the national average, lower-than-average commute times and attractions like the Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium, Lauritzen Gardens and the College World Series.
“Today, Omaha’s location at the heart of the country has earned it a reputation as a flyover city,” the post said. “But those who live here know there’s more to it than most outsiders realize.”
Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of May 2024
Sharlyn Davis, 66, helps her father, Orie Staab, 90, both of Omaha, to vote early, ahead of next week’s primary, at the Douglas County Election Commission office at 12220 West Center Road on Tuesday.
ANNA REED, THE WORLD-HERALD
Runners head west on Farnam Street during the Berkshire Hathaway “Invest in Yourself” 5K in Omaha on Sunday, May 5, 2024.
CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD
A runner goes south on 14th Street during the Berkshire Hathaway “Invest in Yourself” 5K in Omaha on Sunday, May 5, 2024. The race closed several streets in downtown Omaha.
CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD
Runners head west on Farnam Street during the Berkshire Hathaway “Invest in Yourself” 5K in Omaha on Sunday, May 5, 2024.
CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD
Danielle Herzog sits for a portrait with book “Where are you, Lou?” at her Omaha home on Thursday, May 2, 2024.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
A participant carries an inflatable dolphin in the Berkshire Hathaway “Invest in Yourself” 5K in Omaha on Sunday, May 5, 2024. The dolphin was for members of the Disney Dolphin Run Club from Disney Elementary School to be able to find an adult they trust if needed in the race.
CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD
Runners start the Berkshire Hathaway “Invest in Yourself” 5K in Omaha on Sunday, May 5, 2024.
CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD
Nebraska’s Rebekah Allick (5) and Nebraska’s Bergen Reilly (2) go up for a block in the first set the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
ANNA REED, THE WORLD-HERALD
Fans watch the first set the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
ANNA REED, THE WORLD-HERALD
People run to the arena after being let in for the Berkshire Hathaway Annual Shareholders meeting at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD
People line up on the skywalk from the Hilton Hotel for the Berkshire Hathaway Annual Shareholders meeting at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD
People line up for the Berkshire Hathaway Annual Shareholders meeting at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD
People run to the arena after being let in for the Berkshire Hathaway Annual Shareholders meeting at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD
Omaha police block off the intersection of 22nd and O Streets as they investigate a shooting in Omaha on Sunday, May 12, 2024. One victim was transported to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries, according to police.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Laurie Jones of Des Moines holds a sign as she and demonstrators gather across from the 2024 Berkshire Hathaway Annual Shareholders Meeting at the CHI Health Center to protest MidAmerican Energy’s coal energy in Omaha on Saturday, May 4, 2024. MidAmerican Energy is owned by Berkshire Hathaway.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Students and community members gather outside the University of Nebraska Union in Lincoln on Wednesday, May 1, 2024.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Warren Buffett talks with Katie Farmer, president and CEO of BNSF Railway, at the BNSF booth during the 2024 Berkshire Hathaway Shareholder Shopping Day at CHI Health Center in Omaha on Friday, May 3, 2024.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Sophia Phillips, 14, of Omaha, tries on a cowboy hat during the 2024 Berkshire Hathaway Shareholder Shopping Day at CHI Health Center in Omaha on Friday, May 3, 2024.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Father Daniel Hendrickson, Creighton University President, points out the view from the chapel in the JŽr™me Nadal, SJ, Jesuit Residence at Creighton University in Omaha, Neb., on Thursday, May 2, 2024.
ANNA REED, THE WORLD-HERALD
Omaha Duchesne’s Izzy Johnson (0) goes up for a save during the second half of an Class B semifinal girls state soccer tournament match against Omaha Duchesne, at Morrison Stadium in Omaha on Saturday, May 11, 2024.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Workers clear water off of the track after a thunderstorm left the area with standing water at the Nebraska state track meet at Omaha Burke in Omaha on Wednesday, May 15, 2024.
CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD
Workers clear water off of the track after a thunderstorm left the track with standing water at the Nebraska state track meet at Omaha Burke in Omaha on Wednesday, May 15, 2024.
CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD
A downpour hits the track as a severe storm warning halts the Nebraska state track meet at Omaha Burke in Omaha on Wednesday, May 15, 2024.
CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD
A downpour hits the track as a severe storm warning halts the Nebraska state track meet at Omaha Burke in Omaha on Wednesday, May 15, 2024.
CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD
Fans and athletes seek cover as a severe thunderstorm warning hits the area at the Nebraska state track meet at Omaha Burke in Omaha on Wednesday, May 15, 2024.
CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD
Lincoln High’s Brynn Tlamka prepares to compete in the Class A pole vault at the Nebraska state track meet at Omaha Burke in Omaha on Wednesday, May 15, 2024.
CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD
Wahoo’s Jake Scanlon competes in the finals of the Class B shot put at the Nebraska state track meet at Omaha Burke in Omaha on Wednesday, May 15, 2024.
CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD
Gering’s Creighton Beals crosses the finish line as Boys Town’s Isaah Poteet-Brown falls on a hurdle in the Class B 300 meter hurdles at the Nebraska state track meet at Omaha Burke in Omaha on Thursday, May 16, 2024.
CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD
Milford’s Isaac Roth falls during the in the Class B 300 meter hurdles at the Nebraska state track meet at Omaha Burke in Omaha on Thursday, May 16, 2024.
CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD
Auburn’s Addison Darnell, left, hugs Sidney’s Chloe Ahrens after they ran in the Class B 300 hurdles at the Nebraska state track meet at Omaha Burke in Omaha on Thursday, May 16, 2024.
CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD
From left: Seward’s Kelsey Miller Auburn’s Addison Darnell, Sidney’s Chloe Ahrens compete in the Class B 300 hurdles at the Nebraska state track meet at Omaha Burke in Omaha on Thursday, May 16, 2024.
CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD
From left: Lincoln Southwest’s Jackson Mowitz, Kearney’s Zaire LaGrone-Miller, and Bellevue West’s Asher Jenkins, compete in the Class A s00 meter dash at the Nebraska state track meet at Omaha Burke in Omaha on Thursday, May 16, 2024.
CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD
From left: Kearney’s Zaire LaGrone-Miller, Bellevue West’s Asher Jenkins, Omaha Westside’s Preston Okafor compete in the Class A 100 meter dash at the Nebraska state track meet at Omaha Burke in Omaha on Thursday, May 16, 2024.
CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD
Elkhorn South’s Zander Carson-Koestner stumbles at the start of the the Class A 800 meter run at the Nebraska state track meet at Omaha Burke in Omaha on Thursday, May 16, 2024. The race was restarted.
CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD
Sidney’s Chloe Ahrens celebrates her win in the Class B 100 meter hurdles at the Nebraska state track meet at Omaha Burke in Omaha on Thursday, May 16, 2024.
CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD
Holdrege’s Rylan Landin competes in the Class B pole vault at the Nebraska state track meet at Omaha Burke in Omaha on Thursday, May 16, 2024.
CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD
Millard West’s Kate Hessel competes in the Class A high jump at the Nebraska state track meet at Omaha Burke in Omaha on Thursday, May 16, 2024.
CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD
Papillion-La Vista South’s Zaidah Lightener competes in the Class A triple jump at the Nebraska state track meet at Omaha Burke in Omaha on Thursday, May 16, 2024.
CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD
A large whole appeared in Center Street near 67th Street after a break in a 24-inch transmission water main inOmaha on Tuesday, May 21, 2024. MUD says ” preliminary information indicates it was related to the excess rainfall and flooding.”
CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD
An early-morning storm knock tree branches onto the Pacific Street sign on 42nd Street in Omaha on Tuesday, May 21, 2024.
CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD
The sign for Amateur Coffee located at 3913 Cuming St., is reflected in water on the floor. The shop was closed due to flooding after heavy rains in Omaha on Tuesday, May 21, 2024.
CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD
Water pours out of a parking lot onto the ground near 46th and Farnam Streets in Omaha on Tuesday, May 21, 2024.
CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD
An Omaha police officer and an employee of nearby Dingman’s Collision Center push a car that had been caught in flood waters out of Saddle Creek Road north of 50th Street in Omaha on Tuesday, May 21, 2024.
CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD
Members of the grounds crew spread dirt on the right field line trying to make the field playable again after heavy rains delayed the Big Ten baseball tournament at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha on Tuesday, May 21, 2024.
CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD
Dark clouds portend the storm approaching that delayed the Big Ten baseball tournament at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha on Tuesday, May 21, 2024.
CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD
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