Sample data. These scores are illustrative placeholders, not real measurements — live scores arrive when the data pipeline runs.
Where Omaha lands on the scale
Every city is graded on the same 0–100 Fun Score, split into five bands from quiet to exceptional — here is where Omaha sits.
How the Fun Score adds up
The Fun Score is one number with two halves — 16 things that make Omaha fun, minus 7 that wear it down. Here is the arithmetic.
16 things that lift the score, blended onto 0–100
7 things that wear it down, blended onto 0–100
- Fun factors lift it
- –
- Drawbacks pull it down
- –
- Raw composite
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- Fun Score placed on the published 0–100 scale
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Only 40% of the drawback total is subtracted — even a great city can carry a few flaws. Every factor below spells its contribution out as an equation — score times weight. Those 23 contributions are the building blocks behind the two totals above (each is rounded for display).
The Fun breakdown
Every factor is scored 0–100 against the other cities in the index.
Omaha's strongest factors are Events, Outdoors and Sports. Its heaviest drawbacks are Weather Extremes, Air Quality and Crime.
On every bar, the marker shows the typical city — the median score across the whole index.
What lifts the score
- Eats –
Restaurants, food halls and the depth of the dining scene.
Measured from OpenStreetMap restaurant counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
- Drinks –
Bars, breweries, cocktail rooms and the nightlife spread.
Measured from OpenStreetMap bars, pubs, nightclubs and craft breweries/distilleries, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
- Coffee –
Cafés and the strength of the third-place coffee culture.
Measured from OpenStreetMap café counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
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Music venues and how often live shows actually happen.
Measured from Ticketmaster and SeatGeek show listings, plus OpenStreetMap music venues.
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Notable people the city is known for, plus headliner acts that tour through.
Measured from SeatGeek headliner popularity and Wikidata notable residents (rank-blended).
- Outdoors –
Parks, beaches and easy access to nature.
Measured from OpenStreetMap parks, nature reserves, playgrounds and beaches, plus National Park Service units and Recreation.gov federal facilities.
- Culture –
Museums, theatres, galleries and arts institutions.
Measured from OpenStreetMap museums, galleries and theatres plus geo-tagged Wikipedia landmarks, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
- Events –
Festivals, fairs and a packed year-round events calendar.
Measured from Ticketmaster and SeatGeek festivals, fairs and ticketed events.
- Sports –
Pro and college teams and the game-day energy around them.
Measured from Ticketmaster and SeatGeek pro and college games, plus OpenStreetMap stadiums, sports centres and fitness centres.
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Escape rooms, arcades, trampoline parks and karaoke spots.
Measured from OpenStreetMap escape rooms, arcades, trampoline parks and karaoke venues, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
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How much the city is talked about and searched for — news and search attention.
Measured from GDELT news tone and Google Trends search interest (each percentile-ranked, then averaged).
- Climate –
How often the weather is good enough to get outside.
Measured from NOAA climate normals — counts of comfortable days.
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How well a person without a car can move around the city.
Measured from GTFS schedules via Transit.land, the Federal Transit Administration National Transit Database and US Census ACS B08301 commuter mode share.
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Density of fun within walking distance — sidewalks, intersections, mixed-use blocks.
Measured from EPA National Walkability Index (block-group resolution, population-weighted to the city).
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Density of college and university students — the engine behind a college town.
Measured from NCES Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) full-time-equivalent enrollment and US Census ACS age cohort data.
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Protected bike lanes and a working public bikeshare system.
Measured from OpenStreetMap protected cycleway segments and the MobilityData GBFS bikeshare-feed catalog.
What weighs it down
- Crime –
Reported violent and property crime rates.
Measured from FBI Crime Data Explorer and city open-data crime portals.
- Traffic –
Congestion and the time lost to commuting.
Measured from US Census commute-time data (ACS).
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Recent particulate matter and ozone levels — a trailing-week air-quality average.
Measured from EPA AirNow and OpenAQ pollution readings (seven-day trailing average).
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Exposure to natural hazards and severe events.
Measured from FEMA National Risk Index.
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Punishing heat, cold and storm extremes.
Measured from NOAA Storm Events and climate-extremes data.
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Cost of living and housing pressure on residents.
Measured from Bureau of Labor Statistics unemployment, HUD Fair Market Rent and US Census median income plus poverty rate.
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What a typical night out actually costs in this metro.
Measured from Bureau of Labor Statistics regional Consumer Price Index — food away from home, recreation services and transportation services.
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Cities like Omaha
The Omaha read Free
A written read on Omaha, grounded in the data
A plain-English analysis of why Omaha scores the way it does — its standout strengths, where it falls short, who it suits best, and the cities most like it. Every figure is drawn from the same 23 factors on this page: it narrates the measured data, it never invents a number.
Omaha, NE: A Fun City with Great Outdoors and Events
Omaha, NE is a Fun city with a Fun Score of 67, ranking 39th nationally out of 134 cities, and stands out for its exceptionally affordable going-out costs.
Why it scores high
Omaha shines in several key areas, making it an appealing destination for those who enjoy outdoor activities and a vibrant event scene. The city's top strength lies in its Outdoors scene, scoring an impressive 79. This places Omaha at a strong 29th nationally out of 134 cities, indicating a wealth of parks, nature reserves, and recreational facilities for residents and visitors to enjoy (OpenStreetMap parks, nature reserves, playgrounds and beaches, plus National Park Service units and Recreation.gov federal facilities). Whether you're looking for a peaceful walk in nature or an active day outdoors, Omaha offers ample opportunities.
Complementing its outdoor appeal, Omaha boasts a robust Events scene, earning a score of 74 and tying for 35th nationally out of 134 cities. This suggests a lively calendar of festivals, fairs, and ticketed events, ensuring there's often something exciting happening in the city (Ticketmaster and SeatGeek festivals, fairs and ticketed events). For those who appreciate a dynamic social calendar, Omaha delivers with a consistent stream of entertainment options.
Furthermore, Omaha demonstrates significant Star Power, with a score of 69, ranking 42nd nationally out of 134 cities. This indicates a city that attracts notable headliners for performances and has a good number of recognized residents, contributing to a sense of cultural vibrancy and excitement (SeatGeek headliner popularity and Wikidata notable residents (rank-blended)).
Where it falls short
While Omaha excels in many areas, it does face challenges in certain environmental and infrastructure aspects. The city's Weather Extremes score is quite low at 13, tying for 118th nationally out of 134 cities. This suggests that Omaha experiences a significant number of severe weather events (NOAA Storm Events and climate-extremes data). Similarly, its overall Climate score is 21, ranking 106th nationally, indicating fewer comfortable days throughout the year (NOAA climate normals — counts of comfortable days).
Another area where Omaha could improve is its Transit Quality, which scores 34 and ranks 89th nationally out of 134 cities. This suggests that public transportation options and efficiency might not be as robust as in other cities (GTFS schedules via Transit.land, the Federal Transit Administration National Transit Database and US Census ACS B08301 commuter mode share). Residents and visitors might find themselves relying more on personal vehicles to get around.
Who it's for
Omaha is ideal for individuals who prioritize outdoor recreation, a busy event calendar, and a city with a notable cultural presence, all while enjoying remarkably affordable going-out costs. It's a great fit for those who can navigate varying weather conditions and are less reliant on extensive public transit.
Cities like it
- Columbus, OH is similar in its blend of urban amenities and Midwestern charm.
- Kansas City, MO shares a comparable balance of cultural attractions and a strong sense of community.
- Des Moines, IA offers a similar experience for those who appreciate a vibrant local scene and accessible outdoor spaces.
Sources
- Bureau of Labor Statistics
- EPA AirNow and OpenAQ pollution readings (seven-day trailing average)
- EPA National Walkability Index (block-group resolution, population-weighted to the city)
- FBI Crime Data Explorer and city open-data crime portals
- FEMA National Risk Index
- GDELT news tone and Google Trends search interest (each percentile-ranked, then averaged)
- GTFS schedules via Transit.land, the Federal Transit Administration National Transit Database and US Census ACS B08301 commuter mode share
- HUD Fair Market Rent
- MobilityData GBFS bikeshare-feed catalog
- National Park Service
- NCES Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)
- NOAA climate normals — counts of comfortable days
- NOAA Storm Events and climate-extremes data
- OpenStreetMap
- Recreation.gov
- SeatGeek
- Ticketmaster
- US Census ACS
- Wikidata
This narrative is generated by AI from CityFunIndex's measured data. The Fun Scores, ranks and raw values are computed deterministically; the wording around them is the model's. Verify any figure against the linked city page.
Go deeper
Use the data
Omaha’s Fun Score and every factor score are available through the licensed CityFunIndex API — clean JSON, metered one call per city record, behind a paid key.
Cite this page
Paste-ready credit line for journalists, researchers and bloggers. Carries the score, the algorithm version and the canonical URL so readers can verify it themselves.
CityFunIndex Fun Score for Omaha, NE: 68/100 (v2.1.0-dev). https://cityfunindex.com/city/omaha-ne
Press, research and partnership enquiries: media kit · api@cityfunindex.com.