Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lakewood, CO
VS
Lincoln, NE
🏆 Lincoln leads 14 of 23 categories
Lakewood
Colorado
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,786 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
207⚠ High
Population
156,149
Lincoln
Nebraska
14
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.
Lakewood, CO
Pros
Households earn $14,940 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 36°F
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $494,100
Higher rents — median is $1,665/mo
Violent crime (787.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Lincoln
Lincoln, NE
Pros
Homes cost $264k less ($230,400 vs $494,100)
Rent averages $667/mo less ($998 vs $1,665)
56% less violent crime than Lakewood
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (3.3%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Lakewood
Cons
Median income trails Lakewood by $14,940/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Lakewood
Median Income
$14,940
$82,786 vs $67,846/yr
Lincoln
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 92.0 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Lincoln
Violent Crime
56% lower
347.9 vs 787.2 per 100k
Lincoln
Median Home Value
$264k less
$230,400 vs $494,100
Lincoln
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
3.3% vs 4.4% unemployment
Lincoln
Summer Heat
3.5°F warmer
July avg high 89.4°F vs 85.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lakewood, CO | Lincoln, NE |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 92.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $494,100⚠ High | $230,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High | $998 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,786 ✓ Higher | $67,846 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High | 3.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 221⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 243⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.4% ✓ Higher | 40.9% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 92.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F ✓ Warmer | 35.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.8" ✓ Drier | 30.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 58.0" | 26.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 156,149 | 290,531 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.0% ✓ Higher | 56.3% |
| Under 18 | 16.8% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.4% ✓ More | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lakewood'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, Lincoln leads 14 of 23 categories. Lakewood 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 Lakewood to Lincoln or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($494,100 vs $230,400 median home), income ($82,786 vs $67,846), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lakewood, CO and Lincoln, NE are about 451 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.