Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chattanooga, TN
VS
Lincoln, NE
🏆 Lincoln leads 16 of 22 categories
Chattanooga
Tennessee
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8
Median Household Income
$57,703
Violent Crime Index
217⚠ High
Population
181,288
Lincoln
Nebraska
16
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.
Chattanooga, TN
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 36°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cons
Violent crime (823.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Lincoln by $10,143/yr
Property crime (3942.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.1% vs 3.3%)
Lincoln, NE
Pros
58% less violent crime than Chattanooga
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (3.3%)
Households earn $10,143 more per year on average
More college-educated — 40.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.0)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Lincoln
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 92.0 vs 92.8 (100 = US avg)
Lincoln
Median Income
$10,143
$67,846 vs $57,703/yr
Lincoln
Violent Crime
58% lower
347.9 vs 823.7 per 100k
Lincoln
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
3.3% vs 5.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chattanooga, TN | Lincoln, NE |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 | 92.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $230,500 | $230,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,066 | $998 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,703 | $67,846 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1%⚠ High | 3.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 205⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 13.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.1% | 40.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.0% | 92.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hamilton County | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.0°F ✓ Warmer | 35.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 89.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.0" | 30.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" ✓ Less | 26.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,288 | 290,531 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.4% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chattanooga's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Lincoln's 92.0 (US average = 100).
Lincoln is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Lincoln leads 16 of 22 categories. Chattanooga wins 6 and Lincoln wins 16. 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 Chattanooga to Lincoln or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,500 vs $230,400 median home), income ($57,703 vs $67,846), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chattanooga, TN and Lincoln, NE are about 738 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.