Regional Data
Companies, tiny to titan, flourish here — from the neighborhood mom and pop to the Fortune 500s known around the world. Our cost of living is low, our quality of life is high — and our steady economic growth is the envy of the nation.
Looking to relocate? You’ve found your place.
THE BAROMETER
MONTHLY ECONOMIC INDICATORS
GREATER OMAHA BUILDING PERMITS
Demographics
Our region and people excel at exceeding expectations.
Population
Our population of 960,709 is characterized by steady growth. We’ve expanded 7 percent between 2010 and 2016, growing 2 percent more than the nation. 1
Race/Ethnicity
With a diverse cultural makeup, ethnic minorities comprise 15.2% of our population including a Hispanic populace of 9.7%. 2
Age
Our reputation as a vibrant, growing community attracts young and talented workers ready to ignite their career.
- More than 40 percent of our population is 24 years of age or younger.
- Median Age: 35.2 3
Income
Our low cost of living and competitive wages create a spending power of $50,481 – 14.9% above nation’s ($43,925). 4
Workforce & Talent
Savvy, Sophisticated Talent.
If you’re ready to ignite your career – if you’re determined to make a mark instead of just making due – you’ll find a place. Here, we embrace entrepreneurs, cultivate innovation and let imagination run free.
Job Growth
We’ve added almost 31,000 jobs 5 – twice as much as the national average 6 over the past 10 years. Our population not only possesses the education and qualities employers are looking for, but also encompasses the Midwest work ethic simply part of the fabric of our region.
Productivity
Our workforce demonstrates the Midwest work ethic, producing $4,000 more goods and services than the average worker does. 7
Business Environment
Companies, tiny to titan, flourish here.
From our strong business climate, to our first-class resources, we’re proud to cultivate an environment ideally suited for companies wishing to start, grow or expand operations.
A Diverse Mix of Industries
Our steady economic growth is the envy of the nation.
Greater Omaha produces more than $47 billion in goods and services each year
- Outpaced the nation in economic growth for the past 3 years in:
- Professional & Business Services: Increased 14.6% vs 9.2%
- Finance & Insurance: Increased 14.7% vs 3.8%
- Transportation & Warehousing: 0.4% vs -1.1%
- Our Information industry is booming with a $173M increase over the last two years 9
We work hard to keep the business climate friendly and taxes moderate.
Our cost of doing business is 6.1 percent below the national average. 10
| Overall Index | Services | Manufacturing | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Digital | R&D | Corporate | ||
| 93.9 | 90.4 | 86.4 | 84.2 | 96.7 |
Taxes
Nearly 30 percent below the national average in tax rates 11
| Effective Tax Rates | Ranks (out of 75 U.S. cities) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corp. Income Tax | Other Corp. Taxes | Statutory Labor Costs | Total Effective Tax Rate | CIT | OCT | SLC | TETR | Total Tax Rate |
| 21.9% | 10.3% | 19.5% | 51.8% | 5 | 21 | 9 | 5 | 71.9 |
Major Employers
Fortune Thrives Here
We’re proud of the fact that some of the world’s most recognizable companies are based here. We’re even more proud of the impact they’re having around the nation – and the globe.
| Fortune 500s | Fortune 1000s |
|---|---|
| Berkshire Hathaway (No. 2) | Valmont Industries (No. 804) |
| Union Pacific (No. 143) | Green Plains Inc. (No. 662) |
| Peter Kiewit Sons’ Inc. (No. 324) | TD Ameritrade (No. 674) |
| Mutual of Omaha (No. 342) | West Corporation (No. 864) |
| Werner Enterprises (No. 934) |
Education
A world of opportunity awaits.
We are home to award-winning schools and nationally-recognized universities. Innovation and experience work in collaboration, improving education for students of all ages. To them we say: Study hard, engage your brain, dream big and go for it – no coasting allowed.
K-12 Education
Study hard. Engage your brain. Dream big.
Parents want quality choices for education – and we pass the test.
We consistently rank among the leading states in the nation for percentage of high school graduates, which means employers here have the benefit of drawing from a very well-educated workforce.
We know today’s students are tomorrow’s innovators. That’s why our schools – both established and new – focus on equipping our youth with the skills they need to join an evolving workplace.
What’s your child’s passion – and if we nurture it, where will it lead? We’re as eager as you are to find out.
School Districts
Cass County
Conestoga Public Schools
Elmwood-Murdock Public Schools
Louisville Public Schools
Plattsmouth Public Schools
Weeping Water Public Schools
Dodge County
Archbishop Bergan Catholic Schools PreK-12
Fremont Public Schools PreK-12
Howells-Dodge Consolidated School K-12
Logan View Public Schools K-12
North Bend Central School PreK-12
Scribner-Snyder Community School K-12
Trinity Lutheran School PreK-8
Douglas County
Brownell Talbot School
Douglas County West Community School
Elkorn Public Schools
Millard Public Schools
Omaha Public Schools
Omaha Catholic Schools
Ralston Public Schools
Trinity Lutheran School
Westside Community Schools
Pottawattamie County
A-H-S-T Community School District
Council Bluffs Community School District
Lewis Central Community School District
Riverside Community School District
Treynor Community School District
Tri-Center Community School District
Underwood Community School District
Walnut Community School District
Sarpy County
Bellevue Public Schools
Gretna Public Schools
Papillion La-Vista Public Schools
Springfield Platteview Community Schools
Washington County
Arlington Public Schools
Blair Community Schools
Fort Calhoun Community Schools
St. Paul’s Lutheran School
Higher Education
From business and education to science, medicine, technology and the liberal arts, we are home to some of the nation’s leading colleges and universities. We are also home to two internationally recognized medical schools: the University of Nebraska Medical Center and CHI Health Creighton University Medical Center. And they are all within easy access. 12
Greater Omaha Higher Education Enrollment 13
| Institution | Enrollment 14 | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Bellevue University | 9,942 | Bellevue |
| Clarkson College | 1,204 | Omaha |
| College of Saint Mary | 1,037 | Omaha |
| The Creative Center | 109 | Omaha |
| Creighton University | 7,736 | Omaha |
| Iowa Western Community College | 5,439 | Council Bluffs |
| ITT Technical Institute | 597 | Omaha |
| Kaplan University – Council Bluffs Campus | 250 | Council Bluffs |
| Kaplan University – Omaha/Bluffs Campus | 615 | Omaha |
| Metropolitan Community College Omaha/Fremont | 17,376 | Omaha |
| Midland University | 1,126 | Fremont |
| Nebraska Christian College | 139 | Papillion |
| NE Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health | 878 | Omaha |
| University of Nebraska at Omaha | 14,786 | Omaha |
| University of Nebraska Medical Center | 3,655 | Omaha |
| University of Phoenix – Omaha Campus | 71 | Omaha |
| Vatterott College | 405 | Omaha |
| Total | 67,732 | |
Utilities
Power considerations are a given as companies – from data centers to manufacturers – decide where to make their home. That scores in our favor.
Without compromising quality, service or availability, businesses and residents benefit significantly from utility
Electricity 15
Compared to the national average, Nebraska-Iowa rates:
- Commercial: 20.2% below
- Industrial: 14.9% above
Cost of Living
With a cost of living 7.9% below the national average, we’re proud to call the Omaha area home. 17
| Cost of Living Comparisons | Overall Cost of Living | Grocery Items | Housing | Utilities | Transportation | Health Care | Misc. Goods & Services | |
| Greater Omaha | 92.1 | 94.5 | 88.8 | 86.4 | 92.1 | 100.9 | 94.4 | |
| Peers | Louisville | 92.3 | 89.7 | 79.7 | 94.7 | 103.3 | 93.6 | 99.9 |
| Salt Lake City | 97.1 | 107.2 | 94.1 | 75.7 | 103.5 | 99.0 | 99.7 | |
| Colorado Springs | 95.7 | 97.2 | 101.1 | 75.9 | 96.7 | 104.6 | 95.1 | |
| Competitors | Oklahoma City | 84.9 | 89.6 | 72.6 | 87.5 | 85.7 | 92.2 | 91.1 |
| Des Moines | 89.5 | 90.7 | 82.4 | 99.7 | 98.6 | 97.4 | 88.6 | |
| Kansas City | 91.5 | 101.3 | 81.9 | 77.0 | 95.0 | 99.2 | 97.7 | |
| Aspirational | Raleigh | 96.4 | 106.1 | 83.4 | 98.0 | 99.7 | 100.8 | 101.3 |
| Nashville | 96.7 | 97.3 | 91.1 | 90.4 | 100.3 | 81.9 | 103.9 | |
| Austin | 97.5 | 88.1 | 101.9 | 88.2 | 93.3 | 99.7 | 100.9 | |
Transportation
A Key Transportation Hub
We’re served by a ring of interstate highways, railroads, motor freight, air and river transportation.
Reach your destination in 2- 3 days with easy access to I-80 and I-29.
- Major Rail Centers
- Burlington Northern Santa Fe
- Canadian National Railway Company
- Union Pacific Railroad
28 direct flights including San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York City and Washington, D.C. 18
Barge traffic can navigate the Missouri River 10 months of the year.
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division, “Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2016”
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2011-2015 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, “Table DP05: Demographic and Housing Estimates”
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2011-2015 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, “Table S0101: Age and Sex”.
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, “Real per capita personal income (chained (2009) dollars)”
- Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics
- Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Survey
- U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis, Real GDP Per Capita (by metropolitan area)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2011-2015 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, “Table B15001: Sex by Age by Educational Attainment for the Population 18 Years and Over”
- U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis, Real GDP by metropolitan area
- KPMG, Competitive Alternatives 2016
- KPMG, Focus on Tax 2016
- National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS, 2016 Completions, “Number of students receiving awards/degrees by award level, race/ethnicity, and gender and age: July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016 (C2016 C)”
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), Fall 2012
- Enrollment includes students seeking a certificate/degree as reported by NCES
- U.S. Energy Administration, 2016 Average retail price of electricity
- U.S. Energy Administration, 2015 Natural Gas Prices
- Council for Community and Economic Research, 2017 Annual Average
- Omaha Airport Authority