Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Gilbert, AZ
VS
Lincoln, NE
🏆 Gilbert leads 15 of 23 categories
Gilbert
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$115,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
267,267
Lincoln
Nebraska
8
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.
Gilbert, AZ
Pros
Households earn $47,333 more per year on average
62% less violent crime than Lincoln
Violent crime is well below the national average (132.2 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 36°F
More college-educated — 47.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $454,300
Higher rents — median is $1,839/mo
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Lincoln
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Lincoln, NE
Pros
Homes cost $224k less ($230,400 vs $454,300)
Rent averages $841/mo less ($998 vs $1,839)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Gilbert
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 104°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.0)
Cons
Median income trails Gilbert by $47,333/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Gilbert
Median Income
$47,333
$115,179 vs $67,846/yr
Gilbert
Violent Crime
62% lower
132.2 vs 347.9 per 100k
Gilbert
Summer Heat
14.8°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 89.4°F
Lincoln
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 92.0 vs 102.5 (100 = US avg)
Lincoln
Median Home Value
$224k less
$230,400 vs $454,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Gilbert, AZ | Lincoln, NE |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.5⚠ High | 92.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $454,300⚠ High | $230,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,839⚠ High | $998 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,179 ✓ Higher | $67,846 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% | 3.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.5% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 39 ✓ Safer | 102⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 92 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 46 ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B+ (106) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.1% ✓ Higher | 40.9% |
| High School or Higher | 96.3% ✓ Higher | 92.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Gilbert Unified District (4239) | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer | 35.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer | 89.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.8" ✓ Drier | 30.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 26.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 267,267 | 290,531 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.4 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 56.3% |
| Under 18 | 29.4% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Gilbert's cost of living index is 102.5 vs Lincoln's 92.0 (US average = 100).
Lincoln is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Gilbert leads 15 of 23 categories. Gilbert wins 15 and Lincoln wins 8. 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 Gilbert to Lincoln or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $230,400 median home), income ($115,179 vs $67,846), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Gilbert, AZ and Lincoln, NE are about 977 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.