Elkhorn, Gretna, and La Vista all sit within about a 20-minute drive of each other, and buyers often put all three on the same wish list. The numbers tell three very different stories, though. Here is how the Elkhorn vs Gretna vs La Vista home market actually compares right now, and what it means if you are about to start touring.
I’m Lacory Gordon, a REALTOR with Revel Realty. I help buyers and sellers across Douglas, Sarpy, Washington, and Cass counties, and these three suburbs come up in almost every first meeting.
Key takeaways
- La Vista had the lowest median sale price ($309,852) and the fastest pace (11 days) in Redfin’s three months ending September 2026.
- Gretna and La Vista both sold at $147 per square foot. Elkhorn ran $188.
- Elkhorn’s median was $574,839 with 53 days on market, which gives buyers more time to negotiate.
- About $265,000 separates the La Vista and Elkhorn medians.
- Mortgage rates averaged 7.40% for a 30-year fixed as of Oct. 8, 2026, so run payments on a real address.
The side-by-side numbers
All figures below come from Redfin’s housing market pages for Elkhorn, Gretna, and La Vista, covering the three months ending September 2026. I rechecked each page on Oct. 14, 2026.
- Elkhorn: $574,839 median sale price (up 9.0% year over year), $188 per square foot, 53 median days on market, 99.2% sale-to-list, 24.3% sold above list, 213 homes sold in September.
- Gretna: $399,810 median (up 5.2%), $147 per square foot, 17 median days on market, 98.3% sale-to-list, 21.2% sold above list, 34 homes sold in September.
- La Vista: $309,852 median (up 11.2%), $147 per square foot, 11 median days on market, 99.6% sale-to-list, 35.2% sold above list, 38 homes sold in September.
That is about a $265,000 spread between the La Vista and Elkhorn medians. Same metro, very different checkbooks.
What the price per square foot is telling you
This is the part most people skip. Gretna and La Vista both landed at $147 per square foot. Elkhorn sat at $188. So the $90,000 gap between the Gretna and La Vista medians is mostly about the size and age of what sells there, not about Gretna land being priced higher per foot. Gretna has a lot of newer, larger construction. La Vista is a more established suburb with plenty of older, smaller homes, so the typical sale is smaller.
Elkhorn is a different story. You are paying about 28% more per square foot than in either Sarpy suburb. Part of that is newer west-Omaha construction, part is finishes, and part is demand for the area and its schools. If square footage is your top priority, the Sarpy side usually stretches your budget further.
Speed and leverage
La Vista moved fastest at a median of 11 days, and more than a third of homes sold above list. Redfin gives it a Compete Score of 88 out of 100. Gretna was close behind at 17 days and a score of 87. If you are shopping either one, have your preapproval letter ready before you tour, because good listings do not wait for a second visit.
Elkhorn was the calmest at 53 days, with a Compete Score of 48 and 27% of listings taking a price drop. That does not make it cheap. It does mean you are more likely to have time for an inspection, a real negotiation on repairs, or a seller credit toward closing costs.
A rough monthly payment check
Freddie Mac’s weekly survey put the average 30-year fixed rate at 7.40% as of Oct. 8, 2026, up from 7.28% the week before. At those rates the jump from a $310K home to a $575K home is a big change in monthly principal and interest, before taxes and insurance. Sarpy and Douglas County property taxes also differ by levy, so get a lender to run real numbers on a specific address instead of guessing from a median.
Who each suburb tends to fit
- La Vista: First-time buyers and anyone who wants a central Sarpy location with quick access to I-80. Expect competition and move fast. First-time buyers can check whether NIFA down payment help fits this price range.
- Gretna: Buyers who want newer construction and more space at the same price per foot as La Vista. It is still growing, so ask about future development near any lot you like.
- Elkhorn: Buyers with a bigger budget who want west Omaha and more breathing room in negotiations. The slower pace rewards people who do their homework on comps.
If you can wait until winter, the pace usually cools further. I wrote about that in my post on buying a home in Omaha in winter.
FAQ
Which is cheapest: Elkhorn, Gretna, or La Vista?
By median sale price, La Vista. Redfin’s three months ending September 2026 showed La Vista at $309,852, Gretna at $399,810, and Elkhorn at $574,839. Gretna and La Vista both came in at $147 per square foot, so the gap between those two is mostly about house size, not a higher price per foot.
Why do Elkhorn homes take longer to sell?
Elkhorn’s median was 53 days on market versus 17 in Gretna and 11 in La Vista. Higher price points draw a smaller pool of buyers, and Redfin rates Elkhorn somewhat competitive (Compete Score 48) while Gretna and La Vista rate very competitive (87 and 88).
Is Elkhorn part of Omaha?
Yes. Omaha annexed the city of Elkhorn in 2007, and Redfin tracks it as a neighborhood of Omaha. Gretna and La Vista are separate cities in Sarpy County.
Can I negotiate below list in these suburbs?
Sometimes. Sale-to-list ratios were 99.2% in Elkhorn, 98.3% in Gretna, and 99.6% in La Vista, so most homes still sold close to asking. Elkhorn’s longer days on market and 27% share of listings with price drops give buyers the most room to ask for terms.
Are these numbers good for my specific house?
They are medians for a three-month window, so they describe the middle of the market, not any one listing. Price per square foot, condition, lot, and school assignment all move the number. Ask me for a comparable sales pull on the exact homes you like.
General information only, not lending or legal advice. Market figures come from Redfin (three months ending September 2026) and Freddie Mac, checked Oct. 14, 2026, and they change monthly. Medians describe the middle of the market, not a specific home.
Want the real comps for your price range?
Tell me which suburb you are leaning toward and your budget, and I will send you what is actually selling near that median right now. Call or text 402-297-6625 or email lacoryg@revelne.com. You can also start on my buyer page.
Lacory Gordon, REALTOR
Revel Realty
1313 Harlan Dr, Bellevue, NE 68005
