Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Monte, CA
VS
Lincoln, NE
🏆 Lincoln leads 16 of 23 categories
El Monte
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,929
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
108,682
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.
El Monte, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 36°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $597,200
Higher rents — median is $1,605/mo
Cost of living runs 24% higher than Lincoln
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Lincoln, NE
Pros
Homes cost $367k less ($230,400 vs $597,200)
Rent averages $607/mo less ($998 vs $1,605)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.7 pts lower (3.3%)
18% less violent crime than El Monte
24% cheaper overall cost of living than El Monte
More college-educated — 40.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Lincoln
Cost of Living
24% cheaper
COL index 92.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Lincoln
Median Income
$7,917
$67,846 vs $59,929/yr
Lincoln
Violent Crime
18% lower
347.9 vs 423.2 per 100k
Lincoln
Median Home Value
$367k less
$230,400 vs $597,200
Lincoln
Unemployment
3.7 pp lower
3.3% vs 7.0% unemployment
Lincoln
Summer Heat
3.9°F warmer
July avg high 89.4°F vs 85.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Monte, CA | Lincoln, NE |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 92.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $597,200⚠ High | $230,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,605⚠ High | $998 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,929 | $67,846 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High | 3.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.3 min⚠ High | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 8.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 106⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 98 ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (66) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 13.7% | 40.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.9% | 92.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mountain View Elementary | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.6°F ✓ Warmer | 35.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.5°F | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.7" ✓ Drier | 30.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 26.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,682 | 290,531 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.6% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.6% ✓ More | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Monte's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Lincoln's 92.0 (US average = 100).
Lincoln is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lincoln leads 16 of 23 categories. El Monte 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 El Monte to Lincoln or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,200 vs $230,400 median home), income ($59,929 vs $67,846), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Monte, CA and Lincoln, NE are about 1,256 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.