Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fremont, CA
VS
Lincoln, NE
🏆 Fremont leads 14 of 23 categories
Fremont
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$169,023 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52 ✓ Safer
Population
228,795
Lincoln
Nebraska
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,846
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
290,531 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fremont, CA
Pros
Households earn $101,177 more per year on average
44% less violent crime than Lincoln
Violent crime is well below the national average (195.7 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 61.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 36°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 89°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,231,500
Higher rents — median is $2,824/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than Lincoln
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Lincoln, NE
Pros
Homes cost $1001k less ($230,400 vs $1,231,500)
Rent averages $1826/mo less ($998 vs $2,824)
26% cheaper overall cost of living than Fremont
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (3.3%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.0)
Cons
Median income trails Fremont by $101,177/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Fremont
Median Income
$101,177
$169,023 vs $67,846/yr
Fremont
Violent Crime
44% lower
195.7 vs 347.9 per 100k
Lincoln
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 92.0 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Lincoln
Median Home Value
$1001k less
$230,400 vs $1,231,500
Lincoln
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
3.3% vs 4.0% unemployment
Lincoln
Summer Heat
12.4°F warmer
July avg high 89.4°F vs 77.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fremont, CA | Lincoln, NE |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 92.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,231,500⚠ High | $230,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,824⚠ High | $998 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $169,023 ✓ Higher | $67,846 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High | 3.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 102⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 92 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B+ (106) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.9% ✓ Higher | 40.9% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 92.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fremont Unified | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.1°F ✓ Warmer | 35.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 77.0°F | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.4" ✓ Drier | 30.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 26.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 228,795 | 290,531 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.6 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% ✓ Higher | 56.3% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fremont's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Lincoln's 92.0 (US average = 100).
Lincoln is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fremont leads 14 of 23 categories. Fremont wins 14 and Lincoln wins 9. 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 Fremont to Lincoln or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,231,500 vs $230,400 median home), income ($169,023 vs $67,846), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fremont, CA and Lincoln, NE are about 1,368 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.