Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kirkland, WA
VS
Lincoln, NE
🏆 Kirkland leads 12 of 22 categories
Kirkland
Washington
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$135,608 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
16 ✓ Safer
Population
92,015
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.
Kirkland, WA
Pros
Households earn $67,762 more per year on average
83% less violent crime than Lincoln
Violent crime is well below the national average (60.6 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 62.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 89°F
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 36°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $937,700
Higher rents — median is $2,250/mo
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Lincoln
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Lincoln, NE
Pros
Homes cost $707k less ($230,400 vs $937,700)
Rent averages $1252/mo less ($998 vs $2,250)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Kirkland
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (3.3%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.0)
Cons
Median income trails Kirkland by $67,762/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Kirkland
Median Income
$67,762
$135,608 vs $67,846/yr
Kirkland
Violent Crime
83% lower
60.6 vs 347.9 per 100k
Lincoln
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 92.0 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Lincoln
Median Home Value
$707k less
$230,400 vs $937,700
Lincoln
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
3.3% vs 4.7% unemployment
Lincoln
Summer Heat
12.9°F warmer
July avg high 89.4°F vs 76.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kirkland, WA | Lincoln, NE |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 92.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $937,700⚠ High | $230,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,250⚠ High | $998 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $135,608 ✓ Higher | $67,846 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High | 3.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.5 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 24.9% ✓ 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 | 16 ✓ Safer | 92 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 13.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 62.9% ✓ Higher | 40.9% |
| High School or Higher | 96.6% ✓ Higher | 92.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lake Washington Institute of Technology | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.4°F ✓ Warmer | 35.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.8" | 30.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" ✓ Less | 26.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,015 | 290,531 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.0 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.1% ✓ Higher | 56.3% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.1% ✓ More | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kirkland's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Lincoln's 92.0 (US average = 100).
Lincoln is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Kirkland leads 12 of 22 categories. Kirkland wins 12 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 Kirkland to Lincoln or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($937,700 vs $230,400 median home), income ($135,608 vs $67,846), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kirkland, WA and Lincoln, NE are about 1,342 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.