Guide to Westside / District 66 Neighborhood

Locals use the term to refer to the school district (Westside Community Schools) and also the area of town.

The term “District 66” was coined in the 1940s when 4 local school districts (districts 31, 46, and 65) combined and formed District 66.

So, you may hear a local say they live in Westside. But also say they send their kid to Westside.

Where is Westside?

Below is a boundary map of the Westside Community Schools with notable neighborhoods highlighted. If you live within the boundaries, you live in Westside / District 66.

Westside’s location in the Omaha area makes it popular for various reasons. Since it’s in the middle of town, it’s a pretty easy commute downtown (about 15-20 minutes) or to West Omaha.

With convenient interstate access, commuting to Bellevue and even Lincoln is manageable.

I live just outside Westside’s boundaries, and as a real estate agent, I’m always driving to different areas of town. The central location makes my job a lot easier.

Westside versus West Omaha

Do not confuse the two. Westside and West Omaha are completely different.

Unless you talk to an eccentric from midtown or downtown. They’ll tell you anything west of 72nd St or maybe even 60th St is West Omaha, but I digress.

Westside used to be the western edge of Omaha… 50 years ago.

Since then, Omaha’s growth to the west puts Westside in the middle of town.

The heart of Westside is around 90th Street, and most people would agree West Omaha doesn’t really begin until 132nd St (street numbers go up as you go west).

Buying a Home

The vast majority of homes in Westside were built between 1950-1970.

The median price of a home in Westside in 2022 was $300,000.

But that number can be a little deceiving because homes in Westside are pricey on a per-square-foot basis.

You can find a 3 bed, 2 bath home with 2000 square feet for $300k, but it’s more likely you will pay $400k or more.

Lot sizes tend to be bigger on average than homes in other areas of town.

New construction will only be found on the very few empty lots available that have been created by tear-downs. 

Home Styles

Architectural styles are pretty diverse in the area. Westside has some of the best mid-century modern homes in all of Omaha.

Older parts of Westside have beautiful brick-tudor homes.

Ranch-style (one-story) homes are very common in the area.

Homeowners Associations

I get asked about HOAs pretty frequently.

Westside has very few homeowners associations. Most homes are not in an HOA.

Most homes in Omaha east of about 96th St are not in any HOAs. Homes west of that are more likely to be in an HOA, but not necessarily.

Renting

Apartment options will be somewhat limited compared to other areas of Omaha.

Most apartment complexes in the area are older (built in the 80s and 90s).

If you really need a new complex, check out Clove (near 78th and Dodge) and Swivel (near 72nd and Dodge). Both of those are new.

Broadmoor, a large Omaha apartment owner, has a couple of complexes in the area, including One Pacific Place and Loveland.

Schools 

If you are interested in the area schools, please visit a page I created dedicated to Westside Community Schools.

In short, Westside has ten elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school.

Private Schools

Christ the King Catholic School, St. Pius X / St. Leo School, and Creighton Prep are private school options within the Westside boundaries.

Hospitals

There are a plethora of hospitals and clinics inside District 66 (and a bunch more nearby).

Children’s Nebraska and Methodist Hospital are located in District 66, making an emergency room for adults or children just a few minutes drive.

CHI Health Creighton University Medical Center – Bergan Mercy is also in District 66.

Entertainment

If you love country club life, Happy Hollow Country Club is located in the area and features a beautiful golf course, clubhouse, tennis and pickleball courts, and a pool.

If the country club is not for you, the area has several smaller neighborhood pools that require memberships. Be sure to get on the list at a pool right away as the waitlist can sometimes be years long. 

If you enjoy reading, Swanson Public Library is located at 90th and Dodge. You can get a free library card by registering as a resident of Omaha. 

Regency Landing is a new development near 107th and Pacific. It has several popular local restaurants, a co-working space, and an indoor/outdoor pickleball court. 

Restaurants

Food lovers will love this area.

If you’re looking for one of the best steakhouses in Omaha, give The Drover a try.

A newer restaurant getting a ton of buzz is Koji. It serves sushi, yakitori, and Japanese-inspired small plates.

El Basha is a really good Mediterranean / Lebanese restaurant.

Shopping

Westside is home to some of the best shopping in all of Omaha.

You can shop at small, locally-owned boutiques and large national retailers.

Country Side Village is a popular destination for locals. It’s across from Westside High School and features several local shops, restaurants, and bars.

Rockbrook Village is a retail district with quite a few shops and restaurants.

It’s home to The Jaipur, a popular Indian restaurant, and my favorite tailor in Omaha.

If you prefer the bigger chain stores, you will find them in One Pacific Place, Regency Mall, and Westroads Mall.

The area has several grocery stores to choose from, including Omaha’s only Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods. Asian Market, the biggest and arguably the best Asian grocery store in Omaha is also nearby.

The original, flagship Nebraska Furniture Mart (NFM) is in Westside. NFM is owned by Warren Buffet’s Berkshire Hathaway and sells furniture, flooring, appliances, electronics, and more.

And if you’ll find big box retailers, Walmart and Target, in the area.

Pros and Cons of Westside