Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hoover, AL
VS
Lincoln, NE
🏆 Hoover leads 15 of 23 categories
Hoover
Alabama
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6
Median Household Income
$101,765 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
21 ✓ Safer
Population
91,995
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.
Hoover, AL
Pros
78% less violent crime than Lincoln
Households earn $33,919 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (78.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 60.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 36°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.6)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $366,200
Higher rents — median is $1,352/mo
Lincoln, NE
Pros
Homes cost $136k less ($230,400 vs $366,200)
Rent averages $354/mo less ($998 vs $1,352)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (3.3%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.0)
Cons
Median income trails Hoover by $33,919/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Hoover
Median Income
$33,919
$101,765 vs $67,846/yr
Hoover
Violent Crime
78% lower
78.0 vs 347.9 per 100k
Lincoln
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 92.0 vs 92.6 (100 = US avg)
Lincoln
Median Home Value
$136k less
$230,400 vs $366,200
Lincoln
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
3.3% vs 3.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hoover, AL | Lincoln, NE |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.6 | 92.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $366,200⚠ High | $230,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,352⚠ High | $998 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $101,765 ✓ Higher | $67,846 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High | 3.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.0 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.8% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 36 ✓ Safer | 102⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 21 ✓ Safer | 92 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (122) ✓ Better | B+ (106) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 60.2% ✓ Higher | 40.9% |
| High School or Higher | 96.7% ✓ Higher | 92.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hoover City | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.8°F ✓ Warmer | 35.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.2°F ✓ Warmer | 89.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 59.0" | 30.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" ✓ Less | 26.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,995 | 290,531 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.3 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.5% ✓ Higher | 56.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 16.1% ✓ More | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hoover's cost of living index is 92.6 vs Lincoln's 92.0 (US average = 100).
Lincoln is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hoover leads 15 of 23 categories. Hoover 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 Hoover to Lincoln or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($366,200 vs $230,400 median home), income ($101,765 vs $67,846), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hoover, AL and Lincoln, NE are about 747 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.