Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Erie, PA
VS
Lincoln, NE
🏆 Lincoln leads 14 of 23 categories
Erie
Pennsylvania
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,135
Violent Crime Index
99
Population
94,826
Lincoln
Nebraska
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.0
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.
Erie, PA
Pros
Homes cost $129k less ($101,500 vs $230,400)
Rent averages $189/mo less ($809 vs $998)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.5)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 89°F
Cons
Median income trails Lincoln by $24,711/yr
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 3.3%)
Snowy winters — about 104" of snow per year
Lincoln, NE
Pros
Households earn $24,711 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (3.3%)
7% less violent crime than Erie
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
Erie
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 91.5 vs 92.0 (100 = US avg)
Erie
Median Home Value
$129k less
$101,500 vs $230,400
Lincoln
Median Income
$24,711
$67,846 vs $43,135/yr
Lincoln
Violent Crime
7% lower
347.9 vs 375.6 per 100k
Lincoln
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
3.3% vs 6.8% unemployment
Lincoln
Summer Heat
8.3°F warmer
July avg high 89.4°F vs 81.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Erie, PA | Lincoln, NE |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.5 ✓ Cheaper | 92.0 |
| Median Home Value | $101,500 ✓ Lower | $230,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $809 ✓ Lower | $998 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $43,135 | $67,846 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 3.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 18.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.8% | 8.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 ✓ Safer | 102⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 99 | 92 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.4% | 40.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% | 92.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Erie City SD | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.2°F | 35.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.1°F | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.0" | 30.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 104.3" | 26.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,826 | 290,531 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.0 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.6% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Erie's cost of living index is 91.5 vs Lincoln's 92.0 (US average = 100).
Erie is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lincoln leads 14 of 23 categories. Erie 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 Erie to Lincoln or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($101,500 vs $230,400 median home), income ($43,135 vs $67,846), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Erie, PA and Lincoln, NE are about 863 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.