Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alexandria, VA
VS
Lincoln, NE
🏆 Alexandria leads 12 of 23 categories
Alexandria
Virginia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$113,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
157,594
Lincoln
Nebraska
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,846
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
290,531 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Alexandria, VA
Pros
Households earn $45,333 more per year on average
37% less violent crime than Lincoln
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.1 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 66.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 36°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $655,700
Higher rents — median is $1,983/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Lincoln
Property crime (2640.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Lincoln, NE
Pros
Homes cost $425k less ($230,400 vs $655,700)
Rent averages $985/mo less ($998 vs $1,983)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Alexandria
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.0)
Cons
Median income trails Alexandria by $45,333/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Alexandria
Median Income
$45,333
$113,179 vs $67,846/yr
Alexandria
Violent Crime
37% lower
219.1 vs 347.9 per 100k
Lincoln
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 92.0 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Lincoln
Median Home Value
$425k less
$230,400 vs $655,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alexandria, VA | Lincoln, NE |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 92.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $655,700⚠ High | $230,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,983⚠ High | $998 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,179 ✓ Higher | $67,846 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 3.3% |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.1% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 102⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 92 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B+ (106) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.0% ✓ Higher | 40.9% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% ✓ Higher | 92.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alexandria City Public Schools | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F ✓ Warmer | 35.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 89.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" | 30.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" ✓ Less | 26.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,594 | 290,531 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.7% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alexandria's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Lincoln's 92.0 (US average = 100).
Lincoln is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Alexandria leads 12 of 23 categories. Alexandria wins 12 and Lincoln wins 11. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Alexandria to Lincoln or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($655,700 vs $230,400 median home), income ($113,179 vs $67,846), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alexandria, VA and Lincoln, NE are about 1,047 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.