Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Denver, CO
VS
Lincoln, NE
🏆 Lincoln leads 14 of 23 categories
Denver
Colorado
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,853 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
261⚠ High
Population
710,800 ✓ Larger
Lincoln
Nebraska
14
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.
Denver, CO
Pros
Households earn $18,007 more per year on average
More college-educated — 54.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 36°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $540,400
Higher rents — median is $1,665/mo
Violent crime (993.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Lincoln
Lincoln, NE
Pros
Homes cost $310k less ($230,400 vs $540,400)
Rent averages $667/mo less ($998 vs $1,665)
65% less violent crime than Denver
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (3.3%)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Denver
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Denver by $18,007/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Denver
Median Income
$18,007
$85,853 vs $67,846/yr
Lincoln
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 92.0 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Lincoln
Violent Crime
65% lower
347.9 vs 993.0 per 100k
Lincoln
Median Home Value
$310k less
$230,400 vs $540,400
Lincoln
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
3.3% vs 4.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Denver, CO | Lincoln, NE |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 92.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $540,400⚠ High | $230,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High | $998 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,853 ✓ Higher | $67,846 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High | 3.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.3 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.9% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 247⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 261⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 227⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B+ (106) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 54.2% ✓ Higher | 40.9% |
| High School or Higher | 90.5% | 92.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F ✓ Warmer | 35.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F ✓ Warmer | 89.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.4" ✓ Drier | 30.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 26.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 710,800 ✓ Larger | 290,531 |
| Median Age | 34.9 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Denver's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Lincoln's 92.0 (US average = 100).
Lincoln is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lincoln leads 14 of 23 categories. Denver wins 9 and Lincoln wins 14. 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 Denver to Lincoln or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($540,400 vs $230,400 median home), income ($85,853 vs $67,846), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Denver, CO and Lincoln, NE are about 438 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.