Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arden-Arcade, CA
VS
Lincoln, NE
🏆 Lincoln leads 14 of 23 categories
Arden-Arcade
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,479
Violent Crime Index
136⚠ High
Population
96,076
Lincoln
Nebraska
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,846 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
290,531 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arden-Arcade, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 36°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $466,300
Higher rents — median is $1,385/mo
Violent crime (518.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Lincoln
Lincoln, NE
Pros
Homes cost $236k less ($230,400 vs $466,300)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.8 pts lower (3.3%)
33% less violent crime than Arden-Arcade
Rent averages $387/mo less ($998 vs $1,385)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Arden-Arcade
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Arden-Arcade
Summer Heat
5.0°F warmer
July avg high 94.4°F vs 89.4°F
Lincoln
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 92.0 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Lincoln
Median Income
$3,367
$67,846 vs $64,479/yr
Lincoln
Violent Crime
33% lower
347.9 vs 518.1 per 100k
Lincoln
Median Home Value
$236k less
$230,400 vs $466,300
Lincoln
Unemployment
4.8 pp lower
3.3% vs 8.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arden-Arcade, CA | Lincoln, NE |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 92.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $466,300⚠ High | $230,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High | $998 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,479 | $67,846 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 3.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.9% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.6:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.3% | 40.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.9% | 92.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Juan Unified | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer | 35.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer | 89.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 21.5" ✓ Drier | 30.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 26.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 96,076 | 290,531 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.9% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.8% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arden-Arcade's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Lincoln's 92.0 (US average = 100).
Lincoln is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lincoln leads 14 of 23 categories. Arden-Arcade wins 9 and Lincoln wins 14. 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 Arden-Arcade to Lincoln or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($466,300 vs $230,400 median home), income ($64,479 vs $67,846), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arden-Arcade, CA and Lincoln, NE are about 1,318 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.