Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hillsboro, OR
VS
Lincoln, NE
🏆 Lincoln leads 14 of 23 categories
Hillsboro
Oregon
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,891 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
84 ✓ Safer
Population
106,612
Lincoln
Nebraska
14
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.
Hillsboro, OR
Pros
Households earn $31,045 more per year on average
9% less violent crime than Lincoln
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 36°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 89°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $452,300
Higher rents — median is $1,797/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Lincoln
Higher unemployment (4.6% vs 3.3%)
Lincoln, NE
Pros
Homes cost $222k less ($230,400 vs $452,300)
Rent averages $799/mo less ($998 vs $1,797)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (3.3%)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Hillsboro
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.0)
Cons
Median income trails Hillsboro by $31,045/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Hillsboro
Median Income
$31,045
$98,891 vs $67,846/yr
Hillsboro
Violent Crime
9% lower
317.7 vs 347.9 per 100k
Lincoln
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 92.0 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Lincoln
Median Home Value
$222k less
$230,400 vs $452,300
Lincoln
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
3.3% vs 4.6% unemployment
Lincoln
Summer Heat
7.3°F warmer
July avg high 89.4°F vs 82.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hillsboro, OR | Lincoln, NE |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High | 92.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $452,300⚠ High | $230,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,797⚠ High | $998 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,891 ✓ Higher | $67,846 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High | 3.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.1 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.4% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 ✓ Safer | 102⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 92 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High | 116⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.7% ✓ Higher | 40.9% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 92.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hillsboro SD 1J | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.3°F ✓ Warmer | 35.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" | 30.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" ✓ Less | 26.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,612 | 290,531 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.5 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.5% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.8% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.2% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hillsboro's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Lincoln's 92.0 (US average = 100).
Lincoln is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lincoln leads 14 of 23 categories. Hillsboro 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 Hillsboro to Lincoln or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($452,300 vs $230,400 median home), income ($98,891 vs $67,846), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hillsboro, OR and Lincoln, NE are about 1,356 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.