The Omaha metro is home to 972,840 people (up 5.4% over five years), with a median household income of $83,023. Typical rent of $1,398/month works out to 20.2% of the median household income — comfortably below the 30% affordability threshold (Census ACS + Zillow, September 2026).
The share of Omaha's workforce by sector — the base of tenant demand:
| Sector | % of workforce |
|---|---|
| Education & health care | 24.3% |
| Professional & management | 12.1% |
| Retail trade | 10.3% |
| Finance, insurance & real estate | 10.2% |
| Manufacturing | 8.2% |
Education & health care is the metro's largest employment base — sectors like education and health care are recession-resilient anchors for rental demand.
Rents at 20.2% of median income leave room for rent growth without pricing out the median tenant. Market pricing, yields and the Star Score live on the Omaha market page; run a deal in the calculator.
At the 30%-of-income affordability rule, typical rent of $1,398/month suggests a household income around $56,000/year. The metro's median household income is $83,023.
By workforce share: Education & health care (24.3%), Professional & management (12.1%), Retail trade (10.3%) (Census ACS 5-year).