Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Atlanta, GA
VS
Lincoln, NE
🏆 Lincoln leads 12 of 22 categories
Atlanta
Georgia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$77,655 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
221⚠ High
Population
494,838 ✓ Larger
Lincoln
Nebraska
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,846
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
290,531
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Atlanta, GA
Pros
More college-educated — 57.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $9,809 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 36°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $395,600
Higher rents — median is $1,512/mo
Violent crime (840.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3748.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Lincoln, NE
Pros
Homes cost $165k less ($230,400 vs $395,600)
59% less violent crime than Atlanta
Rent averages $514/mo less ($998 vs $1,512)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (3.3%)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Atlanta
Cons
Median income trails Atlanta by $9,809/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Atlanta
Median Income
$9,809
$77,655 vs $67,846/yr
Lincoln
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 92.0 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Lincoln
Violent Crime
59% lower
347.9 vs 840.6 per 100k
Lincoln
Median Home Value
$165k less
$230,400 vs $395,600
Lincoln
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
3.3% vs 5.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Atlanta, GA | Lincoln, NE |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High | 92.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $395,600⚠ High | $230,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,512⚠ High | $998 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,655 ✓ Higher | $67,846 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 3.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.5 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 23.2% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 204⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 221⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | B+ (106) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.3% ✓ Higher | 40.9% |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% | 92.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Atlanta Public Schools | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 53.7°F ✓ Warmer | 35.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer | 89.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.8" | 30.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" ✓ Less | 26.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 494,838 ✓ Larger | 290,531 |
| Median Age | 33.6 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.7% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.2% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Atlanta's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Lincoln's 92.0 (US average = 100).
Lincoln is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Lincoln leads 12 of 22 categories. Atlanta wins 10 and Lincoln wins 12. 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 Atlanta to Lincoln or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($395,600 vs $230,400 median home), income ($77,655 vs $67,846), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Atlanta, GA and Lincoln, NE are about 830 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.