Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boston, MA
VS
Lincoln, NE
🏆 Lincoln leads 15 of 23 categories
Boston
Massachusetts
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$89,212 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
165⚠ High
Population
665,945 ✓ Larger
Lincoln
Nebraska
15
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.
Boston, MA
Pros
Households earn $21,366 more per year on average
More college-educated — 53.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 89°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $684,900
Higher rents — median is $1,981/mo
Violent crime (627.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Lincoln
Lincoln, NE
Pros
Homes cost $455k less ($230,400 vs $684,900)
Rent averages $983/mo less ($998 vs $1,981)
45% less violent crime than Boston
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (3.3%)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Boston
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Boston by $21,366/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Boston
Median Income
$21,366
$89,212 vs $67,846/yr
Lincoln
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 92.0 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Lincoln
Violent Crime
45% lower
347.9 vs 627.9 per 100k
Lincoln
Median Home Value
$455k less
$230,400 vs $684,900
Lincoln
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
3.3% vs 6.6% unemployment
Lincoln
Summer Heat
7.3°F warmer
July avg high 89.4°F vs 82.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | Lincoln, NE |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 92.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $684,900⚠ High | $230,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,981⚠ High | $998 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,212 ✓ Higher | $67,846 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 3.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.6 min⚠ High | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.1% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 138⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (122) ✓ Better | B+ (106) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.4% ✓ Higher | 40.9% |
| High School or Higher | 88.4% | 92.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boston | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F ✓ Warmer | 35.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.6" | 30.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 26.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 665,945 ✓ Larger | 290,531 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 33.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.8% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.7% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boston's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Lincoln's 92.0 (US average = 100).
Lincoln is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lincoln leads 15 of 23 categories. Boston wins 8 and Lincoln wins 15. 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 Boston to Lincoln or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($684,900 vs $230,400 median home), income ($89,212 vs $67,846), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boston, MA and Lincoln, NE are about 1,325 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.