Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Des Moines, IA
VS
Lincoln, NE
🏆 Lincoln leads 17 of 23 categories
Des Moines
Iowa
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7
Median Household Income
$62,378
Violent Crime Index
185⚠ High
Population
213,164
Lincoln
Nebraska
17
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.
Des Moines, IA
Pros
Homes cost $60k less ($170,700 vs $230,400)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Cons
Violent crime (703.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3126.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 3.3%)
Median income trails Lincoln by $5,468/yr
Lincoln, NE
Pros
51% less violent crime than Des Moines
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (3.3%)
More college-educated — 40.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $5,468 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.0)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Des Moines
Median Home Value
$60k less
$170,700 vs $230,400
Lincoln
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 92.0 vs 92.7 (100 = US avg)
Lincoln
Median Income
$5,468
$67,846 vs $62,378/yr
Lincoln
Violent Crime
51% lower
347.9 vs 703.0 per 100k
Lincoln
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
3.3% vs 5.9% unemployment
Lincoln
Summer Heat
3.8°F warmer
July avg high 89.4°F vs 85.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | Lincoln, NE |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 | 92.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $170,700 ✓ Lower | $230,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $998 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,378 | $67,846 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 3.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 171⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 149⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 40.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 92.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Des Moines Independent Comm School District | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.9°F | 35.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.6°F | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.5" | 30.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.5" | 26.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 213,164 | 290,531 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.4 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 56.3% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Des Moines's cost of living index is 92.7 vs Lincoln's 92.0 (US average = 100).
Lincoln is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lincoln leads 17 of 23 categories. Des Moines wins 6 and Lincoln wins 17. 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 Des Moines to Lincoln or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($170,700 vs $230,400 median home), income ($62,378 vs $67,846), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Des Moines, IA and Lincoln, NE are about 168 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.