Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fullerton, CA
VS
Lincoln, NE
🏆 Lincoln leads 14 of 23 categories
Fullerton
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,279 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High
Population
142,280
Lincoln
Nebraska
14
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.
Fullerton, CA
Pros
Households earn $31,433 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 36°F
More college-educated — 44.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 89°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $791,000
Higher rents — median is $1,989/mo
Violent crime (455.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 24% higher than Lincoln
Lincoln, NE
Pros
Homes cost $561k less ($230,400 vs $791,000)
Rent averages $991/mo less ($998 vs $1,989)
24% less violent crime than Fullerton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (3.3%)
24% cheaper overall cost of living than Fullerton
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Fullerton by $31,433/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Fullerton
Median Income
$31,433
$99,279 vs $67,846/yr
Lincoln
Cost of Living
24% cheaper
COL index 92.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Lincoln
Violent Crime
24% lower
347.9 vs 455.3 per 100k
Lincoln
Median Home Value
$561k less
$230,400 vs $791,000
Lincoln
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
3.3% vs 6.9% unemployment
Lincoln
Summer Heat
5.0°F warmer
July avg high 89.4°F vs 84.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fullerton, CA | Lincoln, NE |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 92.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $791,000⚠ High | $230,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,989⚠ High | $998 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $99,279 ✓ Higher | $67,846 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 3.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.0 min⚠ High | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 110⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 25.3:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.0% ✓ Higher | 40.9% |
| High School or Higher | 89.7% | 92.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fullerton Elementary | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer | 35.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.9" ✓ Drier | 30.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 26.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,280 | 290,531 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.5 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.6% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.8% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fullerton'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 14 of 23 categories. Fullerton 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 Fullerton to Lincoln or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($791,000 vs $230,400 median home), income ($99,279 vs $67,846), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fullerton, CA and Lincoln, NE are about 1,257 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.