Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fairfield, CA
VS
Lincoln, NE
🏆 Lincoln leads 13 of 23 categories
Fairfield
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,857 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High
Population
119,420
Lincoln
Nebraska
13
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.
Fairfield, CA
Pros
Households earn $31,011 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 36°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $546,200
Higher rents — median is $2,047/mo
Violent crime (498.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Lincoln
Lincoln, NE
Pros
Homes cost $316k less ($230,400 vs $546,200)
Rent averages $1049/mo less ($998 vs $2,047)
30% less violent crime than Fairfield
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (3.3%)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Fairfield
Cons
Median income trails Fairfield by $31,011/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Fairfield
Median Income
$31,011
$98,857 vs $67,846/yr
Lincoln
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 92.0 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Lincoln
Violent Crime
30% lower
347.9 vs 498.0 per 100k
Lincoln
Median Home Value
$316k less
$230,400 vs $546,200
Lincoln
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
3.3% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fairfield, CA | Lincoln, NE |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 109.2⚠ High | 92.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $546,200⚠ High | $230,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,047⚠ High | $998 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,857 ✓ Higher | $67,846 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 3.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.1:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.8% | 40.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.0% | 92.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fairfield-Suisun Unified | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.6°F ✓ Warmer | 35.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 89.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.5" ✓ Drier | 30.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 26.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,420 | 290,531 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.8 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 56.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.9% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fairfield's cost of living index is 109.2 vs Lincoln's 92.0 (US average = 100).
Lincoln is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lincoln leads 13 of 23 categories. Fairfield wins 10 and Lincoln wins 13. 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 Fairfield to Lincoln or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($546,200 vs $230,400 median home), income ($98,857 vs $67,846), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fairfield, CA and Lincoln, NE are about 1,358 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.