Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lancaster, CA
VS
Lincoln, NE
🏆 Lincoln leads 14 of 23 categories
Lancaster
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,367 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
171,465
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.
Lancaster, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 36°F
Households earn $3,521 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $368,800
Higher rents — median is $1,576/mo
Violent crime (834.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 24% higher than Lincoln
Lincoln, NE
Pros
Homes cost $138k less ($230,400 vs $368,800)
Rent averages $578/mo less ($998 vs $1,576)
58% less violent crime than Lancaster
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.2 pts lower (3.3%)
24% cheaper overall cost of living than Lancaster
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Lancaster by $3,521/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Lancaster
Median Income
$3,521
$71,367 vs $67,846/yr
Lancaster
Summer Heat
8.2°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 89.4°F
Lincoln
Cost of Living
24% cheaper
COL index 92.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Lincoln
Violent Crime
58% lower
347.9 vs 834.7 per 100k
Lincoln
Median Home Value
$138k less
$230,400 vs $368,800
Lincoln
Unemployment
4.2 pp lower
3.3% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lancaster, CA | Lincoln, NE |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 92.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $368,800⚠ High | $230,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High | $998 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,367 ✓ Higher | $67,846 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 3.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.9 min⚠ High | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.6% | 8.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (63) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.6:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.4% | 40.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.2% | 92.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lancaster Elementary | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.7°F ✓ Warmer | 35.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer | 89.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 6.8" ✓ Drier | 30.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 26.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 171,465 | 290,531 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.6 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.1% ✓ Higher | 56.3% |
| Under 18 | 27.8% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 11.2% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lancaster's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Lincoln's 92.0 (US average = 100).
Lincoln is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lincoln leads 14 of 23 categories. Lancaster 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 Lancaster to Lincoln or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($368,800 vs $230,400 median home), income ($71,367 vs $67,846), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lancaster, CA and Lincoln, NE are about 1,244 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.