Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boca Raton, FL
VS
Lincoln, NE
🏆 Boca Raton leads 14 of 23 categories
Boca Raton
Florida
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,570 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
97,980
Lincoln
Nebraska
9
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.
Boca Raton, FL
Pros
51% less violent crime than Lincoln
Households earn $27,724 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (171.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 36°F
More college-educated — 59.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $597,100
Higher rents — median is $2,170/mo
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Lincoln
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Lincoln, NE
Pros
Homes cost $367k less ($230,400 vs $597,100)
Rent averages $1172/mo less ($998 vs $2,170)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (3.3%)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Boca Raton
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.0)
Cons
Median income trails Boca Raton by $27,724/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Boca Raton
Median Income
$27,724
$95,570 vs $67,846/yr
Boca Raton
Violent Crime
51% lower
171.0 vs 347.9 per 100k
Lincoln
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 92.0 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Lincoln
Median Home Value
$367k less
$230,400 vs $597,100
Lincoln
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
3.3% vs 5.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boca Raton, FL | Lincoln, NE |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 92.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $597,100⚠ High | $230,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,170⚠ High | $998 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,570 ✓ Higher | $67,846 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 3.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.0% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 59 ✓ Safer | 102⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 92 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B+ (106) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.4:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.0% ✓ Higher | 40.9% |
| High School or Higher | 96.0% ✓ Higher | 92.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PALM BEACH | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.3°F ✓ Warmer | 35.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 89.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 65.6" | 30.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 26.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,980 | 290,531 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 47.1 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.7% ✓ Higher | 56.3% |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 25.7% ✓ More | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boca Raton's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Lincoln's 92.0 (US average = 100).
Lincoln is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Boca Raton leads 14 of 23 categories. Boca Raton wins 14 and Lincoln wins 9. 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 Boca Raton to Lincoln or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,100 vs $230,400 median home), income ($95,570 vs $67,846), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boca Raton, FL and Lincoln, NE are about 1,375 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.