Moving from Chicago, IL, to, Omaha, NE

From the Windy City to the Gate-city of the West 

Making the nearly 500-mile move from the Windy City of Chicago, IL, to Omaha, NE, means embracing life in a smaller city. 

Omaha, known as the “Gate-city of the West,” is significantly smaller than Chicago, which has 2.7 million residents in the city and 9.6 million in the metro. Omaha's city population is only 486,061, and there are just under 1 million in the metro.  

But a smaller city doesn’t mean fewer opportunities to thrive. Keep reading to learn more about living in the Cornhusker State. 

Anticipate colder winters with less precipitation

Like Chicago, Omaha experiences all seasons with cold winters and warm summers, but there are some differences in precipitation levels.   

Both Chicago and Omaha experience summers with highs in the 80s. Omaha receives around 31 inches of rain annually, compared to around 38 inches in Chicago.  

Omaha's winters are a bit colder, with lows of 13 degrees compared to 19 degrees in Chicago. However, Omaha gets a bit less snow, with a yearly average of 31 inches compared to 35 inches in Chicago.

Omaha sport scene

Sports, especially pro sports, are a big deal in Chicago, with multiple teams like the Bears, the Cubs, the White Sox and the Bulls. While Omaha has no professional sports teams, the town has passionate sports fans ready to support the minor league and college teams.  

Omaha is the site of the College World Series for baseball and the Olympic Swimming Trials. The town is also big on youth and recreational sports, especially baseball.  

Exploring Omaha like a tourist

The best way to explore your new hometown is like a tourist. Check out these Omaha sites and attractions for some family-friendly fun: 

  • Henry Doorly Zoo 
  • Joslyn Art Museum and Castle 
  • Lauritzen Gardens Omaha's Botanical Center 
  • Old Market 
  • Omaha Children’s Museum 
  • The Durham Museum 

Move to Nebraska easily with U-Pack

U-Pack® is the easy way to move from Chicago to Omaha through our nationwide network of service centers. We have extensive experience handling the driving, so you can focus on packing, loading and unloading.  

Request your free, no-obligation online quote today or call 844-362-5303844-594-3077 to speak to a moving consultant. We’re here to help!