Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Durham, NC
VS
Lincoln, NE
🏆 Lincoln leads 16 of 23 categories
Durham
North Carolina
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6
Median Household Income
$74,710 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
284,094
Lincoln
Nebraska
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,846
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.
Durham, NC
Pros
More college-educated — 53.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $6,864 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 36°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $316,600
Violent crime (619.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3799.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.3% vs 3.3%)
Lincoln, NE
Pros
44% less violent crime than Durham
Homes cost $86k less ($230,400 vs $316,600)
Rent averages $298/mo less ($998 vs $1,296)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (3.3%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.0)
Cons
Median income trails Durham by $6,864/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Durham
Median Income
$6,864
$74,710 vs $67,846/yr
Lincoln
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 92.0 vs 96.6 (100 = US avg)
Lincoln
Violent Crime
44% lower
347.9 vs 619.2 per 100k
Lincoln
Median Home Value
$86k less
$230,400 vs $316,600
Lincoln
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
3.3% vs 4.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Durham, NC | Lincoln, NE |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 | 92.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $316,600⚠ High | $230,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,296 | $998 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,710 ✓ Higher | $67,846 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High | 3.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.9% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B+ (106) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.8% ✓ Higher | 40.9% |
| High School or Higher | 91.3% | 92.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Durham Public Schools | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.9°F ✓ Warmer | 35.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.0°F | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.0" | 30.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.2" ✓ Less | 26.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 284,094 | 290,531 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.7 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.0% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.7% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Durham's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Lincoln's 92.0 (US average = 100).
Lincoln is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lincoln leads 16 of 23 categories. Durham wins 7 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 Durham to Lincoln or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($316,600 vs $230,400 median home), income ($74,710 vs $67,846), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Durham, NC and Lincoln, NE are about 1,017 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.