Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Germantown, MD
VS
Lincoln, NE
🏆 Lincoln leads 11 of 20 categories
Germantown
Maryland
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,268 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
90,210
Lincoln
Nebraska
11
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.
Germantown, MD
Pros
Households earn $41,422 more per year on average
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 89°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,908/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $393,700
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Lincoln
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 3.3%)
Lincoln, NE
Pros
Rent averages $910/mo less ($998 vs $1,908)
Homes cost $163k less ($230,400 vs $393,700)
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (3.3%)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Germantown
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.0)
Cons
Median income trails Germantown by $41,422/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Germantown
Median Income
$41,422
$109,268 vs $67,846/yr
Lincoln
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 92.0 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Lincoln
Median Home Value
$163k less
$230,400 vs $393,700
Lincoln
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
3.3% vs 5.2% unemployment
Lincoln
Summer Heat
5.1°F warmer
July avg high 89.4°F vs 84.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Germantown, MD | Lincoln, NE |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 92.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $393,700⚠ High | $230,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,908⚠ High | $998 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $109,268 ✓ Higher | $67,846 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 3.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.6 min⚠ High | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 102⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 92 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 116⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | B+ (106) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.9% ✓ Higher | 40.9% |
| High School or Higher | 89.5% | 92.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County Public Schools | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F ✓ Warmer | 35.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.3°F | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.7" | 30.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.6" | 26.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 90,210 | 290,531 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.9% ✓ Higher | 56.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Germantown's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Lincoln's 92.0 (US average = 100).
Lincoln is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Lincoln leads 11 of 20 categories. Germantown wins 9 and Lincoln wins 11. 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 Germantown to Lincoln or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($393,700 vs $230,400 median home), income ($109,268 vs $67,846), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Germantown, MD and Lincoln, NE are about 1,032 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.