Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hampton, VA
VS
Lincoln, NE
🏆 Lincoln leads 15 of 23 categories
Hampton
Virginia
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$64,430
Violent Crime Index
65 ✓ Safer
Population
137,217
Lincoln
Nebraska
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,846 ✓ Higher
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.
Hampton, VA
Pros
29% less violent crime than Lincoln
Violent crime is well below the national average (247.6 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 36°F
Cons
Property crime (2882.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 3.3%)
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Lincoln
Median income trails Lincoln by $3,416/yr
Lincoln, NE
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (3.3%)
Rent averages $257/mo less ($998 vs $1,255)
More college-educated — 40.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.0)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Hampton
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Hampton
Violent Crime
29% lower
247.6 vs 347.9 per 100k
Hampton
Median Home Value
$11k less
$219,800 vs $230,400
Lincoln
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 92.0 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Lincoln
Median Income
$3,416
$67,846 vs $64,430/yr
Lincoln
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
3.3% vs 6.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hampton, VA | Lincoln, NE |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 | 92.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $219,800 ✓ Lower | $230,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,255 | $998 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,430 | $67,846 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High | 3.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 8.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 94 ✓ Safer | 102⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 92 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 137⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.7% | 40.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.8% | 92.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hampton City Public Schools | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.0°F ✓ Warmer | 35.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.8" | 30.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" ✓ Less | 26.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,217 | 290,531 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.5 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.6% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.3% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.9% ✓ More | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hampton's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Lincoln's 92.0 (US average = 100).
Lincoln is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lincoln leads 15 of 23 categories. Hampton wins 8 and Lincoln wins 15. 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 Hampton to Lincoln or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($219,800 vs $230,400 median home), income ($64,430 vs $67,846), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hampton, VA and Lincoln, NE are about 1,123 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.