Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jersey City, NJ
VS
Lincoln, NE
🏆 Lincoln leads 15 of 23 categories
Jersey City
New Jersey
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$91,151 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
148⚠ High
Population
287,899
Lincoln
Nebraska
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,846
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
290,531 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Jersey City, NJ
Pros
Households earn $23,305 more per year on average
More college-educated — 51.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $500,100
Higher rents — median is $1,799/mo
Violent crime (561.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Lincoln
Lincoln, NE
Pros
Homes cost $270k less ($230,400 vs $500,100)
Rent averages $801/mo less ($998 vs $1,799)
38% less violent crime than Jersey City
Commutes run 18 min shorter each way
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Jersey City
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (3.3%)
Cons
Median income trails Jersey City by $23,305/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Jersey City
Median Income
$23,305
$91,151 vs $67,846/yr
Lincoln
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 92.0 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Lincoln
Violent Crime
38% lower
347.9 vs 561.6 per 100k
Lincoln
Median Home Value
$270k less
$230,400 vs $500,100
Lincoln
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
3.3% vs 5.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jersey City, NJ | Lincoln, NE |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 92.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $500,100⚠ High | $230,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,799⚠ High | $998 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $91,151 ✓ Higher | $67,846 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 3.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 37.0 min⚠ High | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.7% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 148⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 97 ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B+ (106) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 51.9% ✓ Higher | 40.9% |
| High School or Higher | 90.0% | 92.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jersey City Public Schools | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.4°F ✓ Warmer | 35.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.4" | 30.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 26.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 287,899 | 290,531 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.6 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 29.2% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jersey City's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Lincoln's 92.0 (US average = 100).
Lincoln is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lincoln leads 15 of 23 categories. Jersey City 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 Jersey City to Lincoln or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($500,100 vs $230,400 median home), income ($91,151 vs $67,846), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jersey City, NJ and Lincoln, NE are about 1,180 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.