The 5 Best Family Neighborhoods in Omaha

Moving to a new city is always challenging. And a large part of that challenge is looking for a place to live. There are so many things to consider when weighing your options. You may be concerned about house styles, neighborhood safety, quality of schools, the convenience of location — it all can be quite overwhelming.

That’s why we’ve done the research for you, so you don’t have to (and by the way of introduction, we’re Bellhops — your friendly Omaha movers). 

We’ve examined what it’s like living in each of these highlighted neighborhoods, and we’ve created in-depth guides with insider scoops on close-by, popular destinations. Soon, you’ll be living like a local.

What’s It Like to Live in Omaha for Families?

While Omaha may have a reputation as a flyover city for some, there’s far more to its metro area and residential options than this quick-judgment suggests. Omaha features great communities, arts, culture, and entertainment. The area also appeals to sports fans and hosts the NCAA Men’s Baseball College World Series each year. 

Throughout the year, locals and visitors enjoy art events, outdoor concerts, and numerous ethnic festivals to celebrate Omaha’s rich history. Street markets, block parties, trick-or-treat events, and music festivals fill up the calendars of Omaha locals. 

The city also boasts cutting-edge business innovation and high-ranking education options, including several award-winning schools and nationally recognized universities. And its school districts rank with high graduation rates and academic success. 

While those who live in Omaha’s suburbs have to depend on their cars for transportation, Omaha’s downtown area is very walkable and offers a Metro transit system and the B-cycle public bike-share system. Downtown, you’ll find great dining and drinking hubs, parks and outdoor recreation, and popular entertainment and historic districts. 

You’ll certainly find many young professionals and younger residents who are attending the local colleges and universities in Omaha. But this city is known for being family-friendly, and families make up most of the local populat for ion. In fact, Forbes recently ranked Omaha as the seventh-best city for raising a family in the U.S., due to its great schools, housing affordability, ease of commuting, and low crime rate.

So where should you and your household put down roots in Omaha? Below, we’ll take a closer look at the city streets and explore the 5 most family-friendly neighborhoods in Omaha.

Benson

Benson sits just five miles northwest of Downtown. This historic neighborhood was originally planned and mapped out in 1887. But today, it’s a hot nightlife district. It’s loaded with popular drinking hubs like the Benson Brewery, The Sydney, Krug Park, and Burke’s Pub.

Thanks to its central location and thriving local businesses, Benson has become known as the heart of Omaha. Its lively main streets are balanced with long-standing historic buildings and great local parks, and the area nearby Maple Street is thriving and diverse. 

What’s Happening in Benson

Besides beverages, Benson is packed with plenty of the best dining options in the city. 

Check out 1912 Benson for juicy, cheesy burgers and a rooftop deck. Or, for a fancier night out, spend the evening at Au Courant Regional Kitchen and sample their European-style dishes. 

Other great spots include: 

• Burrito Envy and Tequila Bar
• Barchan Beer Garden
• Hardy Coffee Co.

This neighborhood is a top spot for foodies, but also popular among artists, musicians, and young professionals. Residents enjoy the area’s numerous locally-owned businesses like Yoga Now, Omaha Bicycle Company, The Waiting Room music venue, and several boutiques. 

This hip neighborhood’s downtown area also hosts numerous annual happenings, like the popular Benson SummerFest. Locals can fill the rest of the calendar with special one-off neighborhood events like live concerts, food festivals, and fundraisers. 

Schools in Benson

For families, Benson offers several highly-rated schools closeby, like Benson West Elementary School, Hartman Elementary School, Monroe Middle School, and Benson High Magnet School among others.

Homes in Benson

Benson is set up in a block system with small, quiet streets, lined by large trees and featuring smaller, charming homes. The houses in this coveted neighborhood sell at a wide range from $30K to $450K. You can expect to pay somewhere around $150K for a home here, though prices are rising fast.

Dundee

Nestled in the heart of Omaha, Dundee sits just a few miles west of Downtown. This neighborhood is full of charm and features pretty, historic homes. Residents are part of a strong community and keep the area beautiful and clean. 

Dundee is also one of the safest areas in Omaha. The American Planning Association once named it one of the 10 best neighborhoods in the nation due to its beautiful architecture, natural outdoor areas, top school districts, and amenities.

In recent years, Dundee’s Downtown has seen a major rehab. The Dundee Theater, built in 1925, has been transformed and re-awakened. It now includes a bookstore in addition to its theater rooms. Dundee is also the proud home of Warren Buffett, who has lived in the neighborhood for over 60 years.

What’s Happening in Dundee

This neighborhood is extremely walkable. It features popular spots like the eCreamery ice cream shop and gelato, the hip Pitch Pizzeria, and the award-winning Legend Comics and Coffee. Many of these well-loved local hubs are just a few blocks away from the maple tree-lined residential streets in the neighborhood. 

Residents of Dundee throw regular community events like the annual Fourth of July Parade. But for the best experience and Dundee’s biggest celebration, visit during the annual Dundee Day street festival. This event invites locals and visitors to enjoy a parade, a 5K run, art and craft vendors, a book sale, breakfast foods, food trucks, live music, and local beer. 

When residents aren’t partying together, they enjoy the nearby vibrant retail center and numerous local restaurants and taverns. Dundee is also home to several popular parks, like Elmwood Park. Its biggest and best green space, in our opinion, is Memorial Park. This park has picnic spots, walking paths, a baseball field, hosts concerts, and is speckled with hundreds of rose bushes.

Schools in Dundee

Dundee’s great schools include Dundee Elementary School, Neihardt Elementary School, Brownell Talbot College Preparatory School, and Mercy High School among others.

Homes in Dundee

Dundee’s housing market is very competitive, with numbers higher than 60% since last year. Homes can be found between $215K and $450K. Many of its homes, though, can still be snagged at a more affordable price of around $200,000. 

Aksarben

With sidewalks bordered on one side by trimmed grassy lawns and the other side by large trees and old-fashioned lamp posts, Akarben is just what you’d imagine when thinking of a pleasant place to take a walk. This neighborhood sits about five miles southwest of downtown Omaha. 

Aksarben is home to a wide range of residents. Young families, empty nesters, students, and outdoorsy folk all call Aksarben home. Settled between the bustle of downtown and the urban sprawl of West Omaha, this stretch of the city is full of quiet streets and lovely little homes. 

What’s Happening in Aksarben

Adding to its peaceful ambiance, this area is surrounded by lots of parks. 

Elmwood Park is home to a popular golf course, and Field Club is lined by biking and running trails. The closeby Aksarben Village also features a popular park, as well as a bustling shopping center and business district full of bars, restaurants, shops, a gym, a movie theater, and local events.

You’ll find some great dining options near Aksarben. For starters, check out Modern Love. This local gem is one of the area’s most beloved and visited amenities in the neighborhood. This vegan restaurant, a second location after the first opened in Brooklyn, serves up satiating comfort dishes made from scratch. 

Aksarben residents also enjoy plenty of local events and activities. The neighborhood’s biggest and best-known might be the hugely popular Maha Music Festival. This all-day summer fest has hosted numerous indie-rock bands over the past 10 years including Run the Jewels, Modest Mouse, and Death Cab for Cutie.

Schools in Aksarben

Some of the highest-rated schools in Aksarben include Washington Elementary School, Morton Magnet Middle School, and Mercy High School. Locals can also easily access nearby schools like Dundee Elementary, Harrison Elementary School. Western Hills Magnet School, and Brownell Talbot College Preparatory School.

Homes in Aksarben

Homes in Aksarben are up to 100 years old. Sturdy, historical, and charming, Aksarben homes are perfect for first-time homeowners and young families with little ones. The houses for sale in the area range from $140K to $405K. Today, you can find many homes listed at around $160K.

Elkhorn

If you’re looking for something in a lower tax bracket, Elkhorn is a good choice for you and your family. Located on the western edge of the city, Elkhorn offers its residents easy access to downtown while still maintaining that hometown feel. 

This little town enjoys extremely low crime rates. The area is home to several great residential areas that feature large yards and plenty of grassy spaces for kids to get together in the neighborhood. 

What’s Happening in Elkhorn

Elkhorn offers a number of family-friendly activities and amenities, like the TaHaZouka Park. Throughout the year, locals gather for gardening events, snow sculpture competitions, and holiday activities.

 In the Fall, families join in for hayrides, caramel apples, pumpkin picking, and the Pigtucky Derby Pig Races at the nearby Vala’s Pumpkin Patch. 

The town is also home to a number of local dining spots. You’ll find Italian and Mexican food, BBQ shacks and grills, pizza spots, breweries, and sports bars. For starters, check out Lazlo’s Brewery and Grill to sample some of their creative comfort food and a cold bubbly.

Elkhorn also features several beautiful parks. The Lawrence Youngman Park is home to a clean lake, playground, paved walking trail, and grassy picnic areas. In 13 minutes, Elkhorn locals can reach the Ed Zorinsky Lake and Recreation Area. This area is perfect for a peaceful walk, jog, or bike on miles of trails with waterside views.

Schools in Elkhorn

Elkhorn’s great local schools include Westridge Elementary, Hillrise Elementary, Elkhorn Middle School, Mount Michael Benedictine High School, and Millard Horizon High School among others. 

Homes in Elkhorn

Elkhorn’s beautiful suburban homes are clean and modern with a mountain feel. Many have beautiful stonework on their exteriors and attached garages. Elkhorn’s large homes are listed at around $350K and $485K. Its home values have steadily risen and increased by nearly 17% since last year.

Millard

Sitting just 15 miles southwest of Omaha’s downtown, Millard is another popular suburb for commuters and families. This suburb has grown over the years and was incorporated into the city of Omaha. But Millard still maintains its small-town feel and family-friendly ambiance. Here, you’ll find large, single-family homes and quiet streets with low crime rates. 

What’s Happening in Millard

Millard features several charming nearby hubs when it comes to eateries and amenities. 

• A local favorite is Over Easy on Q Street, which serves delicious breakfast dishes like their popular Nutella Poptarts.
  
• If local families want more than neighborhood restaurants and quiet activities, Millard residents can easily access Omaha’s downtown in 20 minutes. 

Throughout the year, locals also gather for regular community events, like Millard Days, which has been celebrated annually for 56 years. This popular festival started as a barbecue in the park in 1964. Now, it spans six days of celebration and helps to support local organizations and projects. 

The event includes a parade, a carnival, a horseshoe tournament, car shows, live bands, food, and family-friendly activities.

Schools in Millard

Millard is home to several highly-rated schools, like Holling Heights Elementary, Hitchcock Elementary School, Millard Central Middle School, and Millard West High School.

Homes in Millard

This neighborhood offers a wide range of houses, from little cottages to flashy mini-mansions. Current homes in Millard for sale range from $92K to $1.6M. $230K is Millard’s median listing home price.

There You Have It: The 5 Most Family-Friendly Neighborhoods in Omaha!

We hope this was helpful! If you decide to take the plunge, don’t hesitate to reach out to your friends here at Bellhops. As we said, we coordinate local and long-distance moving services in Omaha, and we would love to help.