What Are The 5 Safest Neighborhoods In Omaha, Nebraska?

Paige Hanawalt
by Paige Hanawalt

Omaha is the largest city in Nebraska with almost half a million residents. Founded along the Missouri River, this city earned its nickname as the “Gateway to the West” because of the Lone Tree Ferry crossing.

Due to its central location, Omaha became an important national transportation hub during the 19th century. Today, Omaha hosts the headquarters of some of the biggest companies: Kiewit Corporation (one of the world’s largest construction companies); Union Pacific Corporation (the largest railroad operator in the US); and the First National Bank of Omaha, the largest privately held bank in the US.

Living in Omaha means having access to greener pastures and career growth, thanks to its stable economy and abundance of job opportunities. Omaha is relatively safe. As with any midwestern city, it has its safe areas and its crime-ridden areas.

The safest neighborhoods in Omaha, Nebraska are Aksarben Village, Dundee-Memorial Park, La Vista, Papillion, and Ralston. These neighborhoods are known for low crime rates, low unemployment rates, and high-income levels. The above-average safety and high livability in these areas make it suitable for families, single professionals, and even college students.

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5 Safest Neighborhoods in Omaha, Nebraska

With its vibrant downtown, abundant job opportunities, and family-friendly activities, this affordable city has tons to offer. If you’re moving to Omaha, here are five safe neighborhoods to consider!

1. Aksarben Village

  • Home Price: $235,000 median purchase price; $993 median monthly rent
  • Crime Rate: Safer than 2% of Nebraska cities
  • Crime Safety Grade: A+
  • Perfect For: Students, singles, young professionals

Once a popular horse racetrack, Aksarben Village is now a bustling area with coffee shops, local restaurants, fitness studios, modern apartments, and historic bungalows. Aksarben is “Nebraska” spelled backward, and it has a history just as unique as its name’s origin.

The Neighborhood

The Aksarben Village is primarily made up of upscale apartments and condos, office and retail buildings, and park facilities. One of the main advantages of living in Aksarben is having access to nearly everything you could want in one convenient, safe area.

The neighborhood is almost entirely dominated by large apartment buildings, such as apartment complexes or high-rise apartments with 75.1% of the residential real estate classified as rentals.

If you are studying or have a family member who is still studying, moving to Aksarben will be beneficial to you. This neighborhood is close to award-winning schools like Nebraska Medicine, College of Saint Mary, and the University of Nebraska-Omaha.

Because of its proximity to colleges and universities, around 25% of the residents of the neighborhood are students. This is such a large part of life in this neighborhood that the neighborhood is far quieter during the summer when many students are away.

For recreation and entertainment, you can check Elmwood Park, a green space sprawling over 215 acres right in the city, and a wide variety of establishments including cinemas, restaurants, cafes, and a sports arena.

What Residents Say

  • “Great family/dog neighborhood. Close-knit. Top-notch schools. Variety of shopping nearby. Biking trails, lakes, and stream.”
  • “Everything I need is nearby. Shopping is close. Traffic is not bad. No problem with noise. Good schools.”
  • “I like a lot where we live. It’s very quiet and peaceful. It’s very clean and people are super friendly “

2. Dundee-Memorial Park

  • Home Price: $319,000 median purchase price; $1,005 median monthly rent
  • Crime Rate: Safer than 2% of Nebraska cities
  • Crime Safety Grade: A+
  • Perfect For: Singles, young professionals, families

Dundee is known as Omaha’s first suburb, hosting just four homes in the 1880s. Fun fact: Dundee is home to business magnate Warren Buffett.

The Neighborhood

If you are a young couple or family looking to live comfortably while maintaining accessibility to metro opportunities, the Dundee neighborhood is for you!

Aside from its top-notch restaurants, Dundee is also known as one of the best places to call home in Nebraska. In 2011, the Dundee-Memorial Park neighborhood was named one of the nation’s 10 best neighborhoods by the American Planning Association.

The American Planning Association considered Dundee among the elite neighborhoods nationwide because of its varied residential architecture, a strong sense of community, and ongoing commitment of residents to care for and beautify the neighborhood.

In Dundee, you’ll find historic Colonial, Georgian, and Tudor Revival houses. If you’re into modern homes, there are also updated apartments, condos, and rental homes.

The neighborhood is also a very walkable area, with trendy restaurants and shops lining Underwood Ave. You can also visit the Memorial Park, which hosts the annual Memorial Park Concert, and top-rated schools like Saint Margaret Mary Catholic Parish & School and Brownell Talbot.

What Residents Say

  • “We are a city that is like a small town. We are a quiet city with a low crime rate. We have many parks and green spaces.”
  • “Very quiet and well-kept neighborhood. I feel safe in this neighborhood. Neighbors are respectful of one another like not leaving dogs outside to bark at all hours. All the homes are very well maintained.”
  • “Excellent place to raise a family. Had 4 kids. Easy to around. Lots of things to do!!! This is becoming a great community!!!”

3. La Vista

  • Population: 17,064
  • Median household income: $59,401
  • Total crime per 100K: 1,161 (53% lower than the US average)
  • Unemployment rate: 3%
  • Crime Safety Grade: A+

La Vista is a suburb of Omaha with a population of more than 17,000 residents. The name La Vista (meaning “the view”) was chosen by its early settlers in recognition of the beautiful scenery of the Big Papio Creek basin southeast of the development.

The Neighborhood

A great community to live in, La Vista is part of metro Omaha. The neighborhood has a healthy economy, fantastic schools, and lots of residential options. Safety-wise, La Vista is one of the offers low crime rates and a high safety grade.

Several housing styles and price points exist in this neighborhood, which makes it suitable for people of all ages, backgrounds, and income levels. It offers a wealth of recreation opportunities, with 17 parks, a 62-acre sports complex, a swimming pool, a community center, youth and senior recreation programs, and an outstanding library.

As much as 53% of La Vista residents are married and with kids below 18 years old. If you are moving with your kids, La Vista is a perfect location!

Residents of La Vista are significantly more educated than the average US community. Over 30.76% of adults in La Vista hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. The majority of residents of La Vista work in office and administrative support (12.47%), sales (10.46%), and teaching (6.90%).

What Residents Say

  • “La Vista feels slightly slower paced when compared to the center of Omaha. The oldest part of La Vista is not that old, so the houses are nice and the many trees provide plenty of shade in the summer heat. From where I live, downtown Omaha is less than a 25-minute drive, and the Henry Doorly Zoo is no more than a 20-minute drive.”
  • “People are neighborly yet mind their own business. I can feel comfortable knowing that everyone looks out for each other.”

4. Papillion

  • Population: 19,520
  • Median household income: $77,339
  • Total crime per 100K: 2,298 (8% lower than the US average)
  • Unemployment rate: 2%
  • Crime Safety Grade: B

From a small railroad town in 1870, Papillion has grown into a thriving community. Money Magazine’s Best Places To Live list consistently includes Papillion, and the city has made the list five times. The city even ranked as high as 2nd on the list in 2015.

The Neighborhood

Papillion is a small town, but it is just 15 minutes from Omaha, so all of the big-city amenities are nearby. Those who work in Omaha but live in Papillion find the commute short and sweet, making it an ideal community for workers.

Unemployment levels and crime rates in Papillion are consistently low.. With quick police response time, Papillion is deemed as one of the safest neighborhoods by its residents.

Papillion’s residents are highly educated, with 37.18% of adults having a bachelor’s degree or even an advanced degree. The public schools in Papillion set up their students for success and receive high ratings from authorities.

The neighborhood is also wealthy, with a median household income of $77,339 that is 40% higher than the US average. Here, you’ll find a variety of houses, apartments, and condos to fit any lifestyle and budget. It has the newer model of homes on the south side and the more rustic style homes on the north side.

What Residents Say

  • “I like living here. I feel safe. It’s quiet and people respect each other the majority of the time. Even when I was working overnight, I was finding parking easily once back home. The level of noise is very low. I can see people walking their dogs. I feel safe raising my family here.”
  • “I love my community here. Even though it’s small, we all feel like a family. There are so many events here, and I love Papillion Days in the summer. My favorite part about Papillion is downtown during the winter.”
  • “I have had the same neighbors for many years because most people stay in their homes here much longer than in most areas because neighbors become family!”

5. Ralston

  • Population: 7,334
  • Median household income: $53,198
  • Total crime per 100K: 1,607 (35% lower than the US average)
  • Unemployment rate: 4%
  • Crime Safety Grade: A

Ralston is considered part of the Omaha metropolitan area. It is surrounded on three sides by the City of Omaha and to the south by the City of La Vista.

The Neighborhood

If work-life balance is your goal in life, Ralston is for you! The city prides itself as a small-town community where residents are valued and can add value by participating in civic life. Ralston has a low crime rate, low unemployment rate, and high safety grade that earns its recognition as one of the safest areas in Omaha.

Because of its size, residents develop a tight-knit community. Local small businesses can also become familiar to you as a regular. On top of that, you can easily retreat to nearby larger cities every once in a while.

Unlike some other cities, Ralston has a majority of people working in a mix of white- and blue-collar jobs. Generally, Ralston is home to salespeople, office workers, professionals, and service providers. The most common occupations in Ralston are office and administrative support (13.8%), sales (12.24%), and management (6.27%).

You’ll find well-maintained homes along the tree-lined streets of Ralston, with various styles appealing to suit your needs and wants. Despite being part of metropolitan Omaha, Ralston comes with its own unique personality, comfort, and the small-town feel you’re looking for.

What Residents Say

  • “Great schools, good area to raise kids. a pretty quiet area to live in. Lower crime rate. Police and fire are quick to respond.”
  • “The neighborhood has nice neighbors. It is easy to access the park. Great to walk your dog. Kid friendly environment. “
  • Actually, if you’re gonna live in Nebraska, Ralston is awesome. Conveniently located to everything. Not so much crime as other areas have. Nice quiet lil’ town.”

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Living in Omaha, Nebraska

Omaha is filled with different communities, each with its own flavor and quirks that reflect the city’s diversity. Whether you’re a student, a young professional, or a working parent with kids, the Omaha metropolitan area has a housing option for you!

Generally, Omaha is a safe city. But there are neighborhoods in the metro that stand out when it comes to safety and security. These areas are Aksarben Village, Dundee-Memorial Park, La Vista, Papillion, and Ralston with lower crime rates than the national average.

Recently, Omahans have been exerting efforts to revitalize the downtown and Midtown areas with the redevelopment of the Old Market, Turner Park, Gifford Park. Expect newer neighborhoods to be opened to cater to the growing population in the city.

Paige Hanawalt
Paige Hanawalt

Paige is an elementary school librarian with a passion for writing. Her hobbies include reading an exorbitant amount of fantasy, slowly teaching herself to draw, and home decor. While she isn't the most talented artist or interior designer, what she lacks in skill she more than makes up for in enthusiasm. When she's not curled up with a book, you can certainly find her curled over the keyboard.

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