Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lincoln, NE
VS
Livonia, MI
🏆 Lincoln leads 13 of 23 categories
Lincoln
Nebraska
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,846
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
290,531 ✓ Larger
Livonia
Michigan
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$92,458 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
60 ✓ Safer
Population
94,928
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lincoln, NE
Pros
Rent averages $237/mo less ($998 vs $1,235)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (3.3%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.0)
Homes cost $19k less ($230,400 vs $249,000)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Livonia
Cons
Median income trails Livonia by $24,612/yr
Livonia, MI
Pros
34% less violent crime than Lincoln
Households earn $24,612 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (228.1 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 89°F
Cons
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 3.3%)
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Lincoln
Key Differences at a Glance
Lincoln
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 92.0 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Lincoln
Median Home Value
$19k less
$230,400 vs $249,000
Lincoln
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
3.3% vs 5.0% unemployment
Lincoln
Summer Heat
6.5°F warmer
July avg high 89.4°F vs 82.9°F
Livonia
Median Income
$24,612
$92,458 vs $67,846/yr
Livonia
Violent Crime
34% lower
228.1 vs 347.9 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lincoln, NE | Livonia, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.0 ✓ Cheaper | 98.0 |
| Median Home Value | $230,400 ✓ Lower | $249,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $998 ✓ Lower | $1,235 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,846 | $92,458 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 23.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% | 13.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 102⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.9% ✓ Higher | 39.1% |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% | 94.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS | Livonia Public Schools School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.6°F ✓ Warmer | 30.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer | 82.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 30.9" ✓ Drier | 33.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 26.0" ✓ Less | 36.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,531 ✓ Larger | 94,928 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 45.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% | 87.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.0% ✓ More | 18.2% |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 21.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lincoln's cost of living index is 92.0 vs Livonia's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Lincoln is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lincoln leads 13 of 23 categories. Lincoln wins 13 and Livonia 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 Livonia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,400 vs $249,000 median home), income ($67,846 vs $92,458), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lincoln, NE and Livonia, MI are about 695 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.