West Omaha Neighborhood Guide
The neighborhoods that make up the West Omaha community are your classic American suburbs full of rooftops and treetops surrounding schools and parks, where traffic is tolerable, nightlife is grabbing a pizza, and home improvement is what you do on the weekends.
Where is West Omaha?
The best to describe the location of West Omaha would be to mirror the boundariy of Omaha Burke Public High School: generally west of interstate 680 to 144th street, West Center to Blondo streets.
The Millard community, to the west and south, is often inappropriately lumped in with West Omaha and Elkhorn takes up the rest of Douglas county further west. Westside/District 66 is to the east, while Northwest Omaha is deservedly seperate.
72nd and Dodge is still considered by many to be the center of Omaha, but in reality 120th is more geographically correct and the heart of West Omaha.
Outside the city limits but nearby are the communities of Gretna, Ralston, and Papillion La Vista,
Navigating West Omaha’s roads are typically stress free, until you run into the ever present road construction. The Dodge street overpass is heavily traveled but rarely at a stand still while the interstate system shouldering the eastern border will take you just about anywhere in under 20 minutes.
Is Omaha a Good Place to Live?
A youthful description of West Omaha’s might be a bit boring, but most residents are too busy with after school activities to worry about a social life.
If Midtown Omaha is where you go for cool, old homes and trendy nightlife, Being close to the local grocery, strip mall, and neighborhood burger joint is more the priority than entertainment.
Affordable, single-family homes on mature lots, in traditional neighborhoods in a central location are the reasons people decide to live in West Omaha.
Schools
Schools are important and one of the typical priorities of the clients I’ve moved into West Omaha. Good thing ther are plenty of educational options.
Omaha Burke High school is the “home attendace area” supported by Beverage Middle School and several elementary schools each with their own unique academic strongholds: Catlin, Columbian, Crestridge, Picotte, Joslyn, and Sunny Slope.
Private schools are also scattered throughout the area such as St Robert Bellarmine, Montessori, Friedel Jewish Academy, and Quest Forward High School.
The few major hospitals in Omaha are in proximity but outside what most would conside West Omaha. Methodist/Children’s, Bergan Mercy/CHI, and Think Health Care Clinic are just east of the area while a similarly quick drive to the west you will find Methodist Woman’s, CHI Lakeside, and the closest, Boystown National Research Hospital.
Luckily there are many primary and urgent care centers scattered throughout the area and in proximity such as Think, Midwest Ugrent Care, Nebraska Medicine, Eagle Run/American Family Care.
Hospitals
The few major hospitals in Omaha are in proximity but outside what most would conside West Omaha. Methodist/Children’s, Bergan Mercy/CHI, and Think Health Care Clinic are just east of the area while a similarly quick drive to the west you will find Methodist Woman’s, CHI Lakeside, and the closest, Boystown National Research Hospital.
Luckily there are many primary and urgent care centers scattered throughout the area and in proximity such as Think, Midwest Ugrent Care, Nebraska Medicine, Eagle Run/American Family Care.
Things to do in West Omaha
From golf courses, boutique shopping finds. craft cocktails, authentic cuisine, or mid day walks around the park, West Omaha provides a little of everything.
Parks: Omaha is home to more than 250 parks totalling over 11,000 acres. Most of these provide convenient parenting relief tucked inside local neighborhoods such as Trendwood (132nd & Center), Meadow Lane (114th & Dodge), Lee Valley (114th & Blondo), and Willow Wood (132nd & Blondo).
If your four-legged friends need some space to run, the Hefflinger bark park (114th & Maple) is one of the largest dog parks in town.
Walking and Biking Trails: Various connections to the 18 mile Papio Creek trail can be found onthe eastern edge of West Omaha which joins the Keystone trail that extends all the way to Bellevue.
Sports: Be careful of the weekend traffic around the Tranquility soccer complex and Moylan Iceplex (120th & Maple) or Lamp ball fields (114th & Pacific).
Golf: Miracle Hills golf and tennis facilities (120th & Blondo) offers the public a convenient escape while Champions Run (140th & Maple) is a members only country club. The Westwood and Eagle Run golf courses are excellent public par 3 courses for youth and practice.
Fitness: The Jewish Community Center’s 28 acre campus located on 132nd and Dodge streets offers modern fitness, aquatics, sports, performing arts, and youth programs, with open membership policies. Genesis Health Clubs, Blue Moon Fitness, YMCA, and Orangetheory, are fully equipped to make you sweat with options for kids such as PE 101.
Lakes and Outdoor Recreation: In order to cast a line, catch some waves, or hit a lake side trail you’ll likely need to step just outside traditional West Omaha to Standing Bear or Zorinksky Lakes or buy a home in the Candlewood, Regency, Linden Estates neighborhoods that support smaller, private, ponds.
Shopping. Pockets of small outdoor strip malls such as Westwood Plaza (120th &Center) and the newer Sterling Ridge development (132nd & Pacific) will provide boutique finds and local dining options.
The new Heartwood development on the old Boystown farm land has exciting plans for residential, recreational and retail shops.
For home décor and landscaping I suggest you try local favorite Mulhuall’s (120th & Maple) where they also host unique seasonal events. Or you can always stop into the At Home store (132nd & Center) for your stock home goods.
Where to eat and drink in West Omaha?
Omaha is full of awesome, local eats. Rarely will a franchise be the suggested dinner of choice by a local. And for good reason.
In May 2022, Food and Wine magazine ranked Omaha one of the best up and coming food cities. From our storied steakhouses, to one of the best ice crem shops in the country, here are my personal favorites in the West Omaha area,
Charred Burgers in Sterling Ridge serves up locally sourced Waguy beef that is part art, part cuisine with extremly reosonably prices.
The hotly contested battle of best pizza in Omaha will always include a vote for Big Fred’s off 120th and Pacific St.
Brother Sebastians (119th st south of Pacific) or Mahogany steak house offer both ends of the steakhouse experience, old school to modern chic.
The long-established Bagel Bin is cream cheese heaven and a weekday breakfast hotspot.
Do not, I repeat do NOT, step into The Green Onion lounge if you’re not a stiff drink professional.
When your’re stuggling to decide what to eat, let your sense of smell lead the way in the First National Business Plaza where you’ll find Charleston’s for upscale American, Biaggi’s for excellent Italian, or Mahogany Prime for a healthy portion of protein, and Stokes Southwestern for some burn.
If you crave a little chocolate in your mornings Hurt’s Donuts will do the trick and then some.
Stories coffee shop is a quickly becoming a not so quiet local java favorite.
Real Estate Market
There is a variety home prices and styles in West Omaha. Developed in the mid 70’s through the 90’s, expect to pay 300 to 400k for a quality home.
Only about 7% of homes in West Omaha turn over each year so expect some competition when home shopping.
If your looking for an economical purchase look for the split entry home style, clustered together in select neighborhoods. Expect to pay a slight premium for a traditional ranch style but with it typically comes a large lot. You’ll also find tri and multi-level, raised ranch, and two story home styles.
West Omaha Neighbrhoods
West Omaha neighborhoods are a product of traditional development where The Omaha housing market gets newer the further west from downtown.
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