Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Highlands Ranch, CO
VS
Lincoln, NE
🏆 Highlands Ranch leads 13 of 23 categories
Highlands Ranch
Colorado
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$148,227 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
101,514
Lincoln
Nebraska
10
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.
Highlands Ranch, CO
Pros
Households earn $80,381 more per year on average
60% less violent crime than Lincoln
Violent crime is well below the national average (138.1 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 65.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 36°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $637,400
Higher rents — median is $2,353/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Lincoln
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Lincoln, NE
Pros
Homes cost $407k less ($230,400 vs $637,400)
Rent averages $1355/mo less ($998 vs $2,353)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Highlands Ranch
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.0)
Smaller class sizes — 13.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Highlands Ranch by $80,381/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Highlands Ranch
Median Income
$80,381
$148,227 vs $67,846/yr
Highlands Ranch
Violent Crime
60% lower
138.1 vs 347.9 per 100k
Lincoln
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 92.0 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Lincoln
Median Home Value
$407k less
$230,400 vs $637,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Highlands Ranch, CO | Lincoln, NE |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 92.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $637,400⚠ High | $230,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,353⚠ High | $998 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $148,227 ✓ Higher | $67,846 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% | 3.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.1 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 26.2% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 102⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 ✓ Safer | 92 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | B+ (106) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 65.7% ✓ Higher | 40.9% |
| High School or Higher | 98.8% ✓ Higher | 92.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Douglas County School District No. Re 1 | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.6°F ✓ Warmer | 35.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.2" ✓ Drier | 30.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.0" | 26.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,514 | 290,531 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.0 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 79.4% ✓ Higher | 56.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.9% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Highlands Ranch's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Lincoln's 92.0 (US average = 100).
Lincoln is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Highlands Ranch leads 13 of 23 categories. Highlands Ranch wins 13 and Lincoln wins 10. 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 Highlands Ranch to Lincoln or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($637,400 vs $230,400 median home), income ($148,227 vs $67,846), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Highlands Ranch, CO and Lincoln, NE are about 446 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.