Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carlsbad, CA
VS
Lincoln, NE
🏆 Carlsbad leads 15 of 23 categories
Carlsbad
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$134,139 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52 ✓ Safer
Population
114,745
Lincoln
Nebraska
8
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.
Carlsbad, CA
Pros
Households earn $66,293 more per year on average
43% less violent crime than Lincoln
Violent crime is well below the national average (199.1 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 59.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 36°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 74°F vs 89°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,070,500
Higher rents — median is $2,477/mo
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Lincoln
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Lincoln, NE
Pros
Homes cost $840k less ($230,400 vs $1,070,500)
Rent averages $1479/mo less ($998 vs $2,477)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (3.3%)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Carlsbad
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.0)
Cons
Median income trails Carlsbad by $66,293/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Carlsbad
Median Income
$66,293
$134,139 vs $67,846/yr
Carlsbad
Violent Crime
43% lower
199.1 vs 347.9 per 100k
Lincoln
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 92.0 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Lincoln
Median Home Value
$840k less
$230,400 vs $1,070,500
Lincoln
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
3.3% vs 6.0% unemployment
Lincoln
Summer Heat
15.2°F warmer
July avg high 89.4°F vs 74.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carlsbad, CA | Lincoln, NE |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 92.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,070,500⚠ High | $230,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,477⚠ High | $998 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $134,139 ✓ Higher | $67,846 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High | 3.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 24.8% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 102⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 92 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B+ (106) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 40.9% |
| High School or Higher | 95.1% ✓ Higher | 92.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carlsbad Unified | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.0°F ✓ Warmer | 35.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.2°F | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" ✓ Drier | 30.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 26.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,745 | 290,531 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 42.4 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.2% ✓ Higher | 56.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 17.8% ✓ More | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carlsbad's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Lincoln's 92.0 (US average = 100).
Lincoln is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carlsbad leads 15 of 23 categories. Carlsbad wins 15 and Lincoln wins 8. 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 Carlsbad to Lincoln or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,070,500 vs $230,400 median home), income ($134,139 vs $67,846), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carlsbad, CA and Lincoln, NE are about 1,251 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.