Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lincoln, NE
VS
Little Rock, AR
🏆 Lincoln leads 13 of 23 categories
Lincoln
Nebraska
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.0
Median Household Income
$67,846 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
290,531 ✓ Larger
Little Rock
Arkansas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,697
Violent Crime Index
440⚠ High
Population
202,218
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lincoln, NE
Pros
79% less violent crime than Little Rock
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (3.3%)
Households earn $9,149 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.0)
Cons
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Little Rock
Little Rock, AR
Pros
Homes cost $25k less ($205,800 vs $230,400)
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 36°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.1)
More college-educated — 44.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Lincoln
Cons
Violent crime (1672.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Lincoln by $9,149/yr
Property crime (5214.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.4% vs 3.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lincoln
Median Income
$9,149
$67,846 vs $58,697/yr
Lincoln
Violent Crime
79% lower
347.9 vs 1672.0 per 100k
Lincoln
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
3.3% vs 4.4% unemployment
Little Rock
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 89.1 vs 92.0 (100 = US avg)
Little Rock
Median Home Value
$25k less
$205,800 vs $230,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lincoln, NE | Little Rock, AR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.0 | 89.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $230,400 | $205,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $998 ✓ Lower | $1,006 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,846 ✓ Higher | $58,697 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 4.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min | 18.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% ✓ Higher | 8.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer | 363⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 440⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer | 248⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.9% | 44.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% ✓ Higher | 92.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS | LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.6°F | 50.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 30.9" ✓ Drier | 52.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 26.0" | 3.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,531 ✓ Larger | 202,218 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 36.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% ✓ Higher | 54.4% |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | 23.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lincoln's cost of living index is 92.0 vs Little Rock's 89.1 (US average = 100).
Little Rock is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lincoln leads 13 of 23 categories. Lincoln wins 13 and Little Rock 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 Lincoln to Little Rock or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,400 vs $205,800 median home), income ($67,846 vs $58,697), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lincoln, NE and Little Rock, AR are about 482 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.