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Live in Omaha 

“The people of Omaha, with their strong work ethic and generosity, represent what’s great about the nation’s heartland. Many residents come here from smaller towns, providing us with a stronger sense of community than many other cities our size. We’re investing in our riverfront and downtown and revitalizing our inner city, breathing life into some of our older neighborhoods.”  

—Mayor Jim Suttle

“Omaha has an incredible sense of community pride and investment. Our arts, entertainment, and food scene rivals that of bigger cities. Once you get here, you quickly learn that it’s not only a great place to visit, but living here is even better—that’s our best-kept secret.”

—Kerri Peterson

Executive Director 

Live Well Omaha

Facts of Life in Omaha

• Greater Omaha, which includes the city of Omaha as well as Bellevue, Blair, Gretna, La Vista, Plattsmouth, Ralston, and Council Bluffs, Iowa, has a population of more than 880,000.

• In April 2012, Forbes ranked Omaha among the top 10 cities in the country for raising a family. 

• Live Well Omaha is a collaboration between individuals, organizations, and institutions to improve the overall health of the city’s residents. 

• In July 2011, Kiplinger’s Personal Finance ranked Omaha No. 1 on its list of “Best Value Cities for 2011.”

• According to the National Association of Realtors, the median home price in Omaha is $132,900. 

• In August 2011, RelocateAmerica ranked Omaha among its “Top 10 Places to Live” in the country.

• The average high in June is 83 degrees.

• In December 2011, Farmers Insurance Group ranked Omaha No. 8 on its annual study of the most secure places to live in the country.

Work in Omaha 

“This city has a deep talent pool, a solid work ethic, and strong business and community leadership. ConAgra Foods is proud to have called Omaha our home since 1922. Omaha has many of the benefits of a much larger city, but also the friendliness and sense of community frequently found in smaller towns. It’s a city with a can-do attitude and a true spirit of giving back to those initiatives that make the community a vibrant place to live and work.”

—Chris Kircher

Vice President, Corporate Affairs, ConAgra Foods

President, ConAgra Foods Foundation 

“Omaha is a city in which you can truly get things done. If you have a good idea, coupled with the right motives, there is no shortage of people willing to help you shape your dream into a reality. The ethics and dedication of Omaha’s business community are second to none. It seems the city is more focused around making customers happy versus solely chasing after a profit. Our community is filled with massively talented and passionate creatives who are eager to make their mark on Omaha.”

—Jeff Slobotski

Co-founder and Chief Community Builder

Silicon Prairie News 

“There’s a great deal of energy in Omaha generated by many talented young people in business and the arts. The University of Nebraska campuses in Omaha are expanding dramatically in size and adding great opportunities. The rise of the creative class is making a true difference. Omahans of a generation ago couldn’t have imagined the transformation of downtown into a magnet for talent in many fields. This isn’t your parents’ Omaha.”

—James B. Milliken

President

University of Nebraska 

“Omaha is a great place to do business due to its young, educated workforce, and the great opportunity for affordable commercial real estate. We live in a pro-business city and state, and we work together to overcome any obstacle that stands in the way of making a business successful. Our local government and community leaders are focused on solving problems and paving the way to attract new companies. Here at First National Bank, we’re in our sixth generation of family ownership. If you come to Omaha, you’ll find a community that genuinely treats guests with friendliness and openness.”

—Daniel K. O’Neill

President

First National Bank of Omaha

“I love Omaha’s  high-performance business culture. People here have meaningful jobs that make a difference. Gallup creates impact for our clients by understanding the most important issues facing mankind, and Omaha is a place that people can come and feel like they’re changing the world every day.”

—Matt Mosser

Chief Talent Officer

Gallup

“Omaha has everything a young professional would deem ideal: great schools, affordable homes, low crime rates, plenty of jobs, and great restaurants. Metropolitan Community College has outstanding success recruiting and retaining talented professionals from the area. After launching a career, young professionals have a plethora of continuing education opportunities as well. Omaha is a community where young people are valued as the future of the city.”

—Jim Grotrian

Executive Vice President

Metropolitan Community College

Facts of Work in Omaha

• Omaha is home to five Fortune 500 companies: Berkshire Hathaway, ConAgra Foods, Kiewit Corporation, Mutual of Omaha, and Union Pacific.

• Big Omaha is an annual, three-day innovation and entrepreneurship conference held in May that attracts some 600 attendees from around the world.  

• Greater Omaha is home to 17 universities and colleges. 

• In March 2012, Business Insider named Omaha among the country’s 20 best-performing cities.

• The three largest employers in Greater Omaha are Offutt Air Force Base, Alegent Health, and Omaha Public Schools. 

• In February 2012, Forbes ranked Omaha among the top 10 cities in the country for jobs, based on statistics including unemployment rate, household income, and projected job growth. 

Play in Omaha 

“The culinary scene in Omaha is growing with the increase of locally owned, chef-driven restaurants, as well as new food trucks. There is a community-wide understanding about the importance of appreciating where our food comes from. Whether it be livestock, produce, or vinegar, we have access to some of the highest quality ingredients in the country. At The Grey Plume, we make everything from scratch on-site. We’re fortunate to be part of Omaha’s food success and are excited to see where our city will be in the next few years. There’s a positive demeanor in Omaha that spills over into the community. We’re proud to live here and are genuinely excited to
see others succeed.”

—Clayton Chapman

Chef-owner

The Grey Plume

“It’s unbelievable how much good, local indie talent is in and around Omaha. From Saddle Creek Records opening in the mid ’90s to venues like Slowdown, people here are committed to promoting and showcasing local and nationally touring bands. When we started the Maha Music Festival, Omaha already had a thriving independent music scene, but we wanted to create a festival platform to showcase the talent. Omaha is chock-full of committed, engaged people who want to jump in and support events like Maha.”

—Mike App

Co-founder, Maha Music Festival

Vice President, Lozier Corporation

“The friendliness and enthusiasm of the people of Omaha has been a trademark of the College World Series for more than six decades. Local service clubs and more than 315 volunteers participate each year. The late NCAA president Myles Brand once said, ‘There is something special about Omaha. I couldn’t imagine doing something like this in another city.’”

—Jack Diesing Jr.

Chairman and President

College World Series of Omaha Inc.

“I love the sense of possibility found in Omaha. I’m British and have lived in and visited lots of different cities. When I came across Omaha, the energy and buzz really surprised me. It’s a community where you can have a crazy, creative idea, and they support you bringing it to life! People are always surprised that there is this vibrant and fun scene here. The design talent just keeps on getting better, and we now have our own nonprofit design incubator to help nurture the raw talent to the next level.”

—Nick Hudson

Founder

Omaha Fashion Week

Facts of Play in Omaha

• In March 2012, The Grey Plume, known for its farm-to-table approach, was named America’s greenest restaurant by the Green Restaurant Association. 

• In November 2011, Men’s Health ranked Omaha among the 10 happiest cities in the nation.

• The College World Series has been hosted in Omaha since 1950. 

• The U.S. Olympic Swim Trials will take place June 25–July 2 at CenturyLink Center Omaha. 

• Omaha Fashion Week, which features local designers, happens each March and August and attracts some 6,000 attendees. 

• One hundred fifty miles of trails surround both ends of the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge, which links Omaha to Council Bluffs, Iowa. 

Heal in Omaha 

“There’s great momentum in health care in Omaha, and doctors and nurses come here to be part of the growth in excellent care. The University of Nebraska Medical Center is ranked among the best academic health centers in the country, and our new facilities and programs are spurring national and international recognition. With growth in business, academics, and health care, the vibe in Omaha is electric.”

—Harold M. Maurer, M.D.

Chancellor

University of Nebraska Medical Center

“We have a culture of trust between physicians and patients. The medical community in Omaha keeps the patients at the center of health care.”

—Dr. David C. Goldner

Physician
Omaha Nephrology

“Omaha has a health care market with strong competition, an openness to collaboration, and a readiness for change. At Alegent Health, we’re in the early stages of transforming health care in Omaha by affiliating with Creighton University’s health sciences schools. By bringing Creighton’s physician group into Alegent Health Clinic and by acquiring Creighton University Medical Center, we’ll create a fully integrated, academic health delivery system that will train and educate leading health providers of the future.”

—Richard A. Hachten II

President and CEO

Alegent Health 

“Omaha has a long history of commitment to health and wellness. Multiple health care systems committed to community health improvement are working to ensure state-of-the-art access to health care. The city boasts more than 20 miles of bicycle lanes, a city bicycle and pedestrian coordinator, bike racks on all the buses, and a mayor who is committed to give all Omahans a choice on how to get around town. There is a unique sense of community pride here that results in continued investment, making Omaha one of the best and healthiest places to live, work, and raise a family.” 

—Kerri Peterson

Executive Director

Live Well Omaha 

Facts of Health in Omaha

• Greater Omaha is home to 16 hospitals. 

• According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 61,000 people were employed in Omaha’s health care industry in 2011. 

• Omaha is home to two major research hospitals: Creighton University Medical Center and the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

• U.S. News & World Report  ranked the University of Nebraska Medical Center the sixth-best medical school for primary care on its list of best grad schools for 2013. 

• With five hospitals, Alegent Health is Greater Omaha’s largest health care provider.

• In April 2012, Alegent Health and Creighton University expanded their academic affiliation, making Alegent facilities the primary teaching sites for Creighton’s health sciences schools. 

• In September 2011, Omaha was designated a “Bicycle Friendly Community” by the League of American Bicyclists. 

• Children’s Hospital & Medical Center in Omaha was ranked among the top 100 pediatric hospitals for 2011–12 by U.S. News & World Report for its care in orthopedics and cardiology/heart surgery.

• Omaha B-cycle is the city’s  bike-sharing system, which lets members pick up and drop off bikes at Omaha B-cycle stations around town.