Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lincoln, NE
VS
Long Beach, CA
🏆 Lincoln leads 16 of 23 categories
Lincoln
Nebraska
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,846
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
290,531
Long Beach
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,995 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
462,293 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lincoln, NE
Pros
Homes cost $479k less ($230,400 vs $709,700)
Rent averages $700/mo less ($998 vs $1,698)
49% less violent crime than Long Beach
24% cheaper overall cost of living than Long Beach
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (3.3%)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Long Beach by $11,149/yr
Long Beach, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 36°F
Households earn $11,149 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 89°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $709,700
Higher rents — median is $1,698/mo
Violent crime (676.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 24% higher than Lincoln
Key Differences at a Glance
Lincoln
Cost of Living
24% cheaper
COL index 92.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Lincoln
Violent Crime
49% lower
347.9 vs 676.4 per 100k
Lincoln
Median Home Value
$479k less
$230,400 vs $709,700
Lincoln
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
3.3% vs 6.6% unemployment
Lincoln
Summer Heat
8.0°F warmer
July avg high 89.4°F vs 81.4°F
Long Beach
Median Income
$11,149
$78,995 vs $67,846/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lincoln, NE | Long Beach, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.0 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $230,400 ✓ Lower | $709,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $998 ✓ Lower | $1,698⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,846 | $78,995 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 30.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer | 166⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.9% ✓ Higher | 33.7% |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% ✓ Higher | 81.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS | Long Beach Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.6°F | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer | 81.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 30.9" | 12.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 26.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,531 | 462,293 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 36.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% ✓ Higher | 40.6% |
| Under 18 | 22.0% ✓ More | 20.7% |
| Over 65 | 14.0% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lincoln's cost of living index is 92.0 vs Long Beach's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Lincoln is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lincoln leads 16 of 23 categories. Lincoln wins 16 and Long Beach wins 7. 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 Long Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,400 vs $709,700 median home), income ($67,846 vs $78,995), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lincoln, NE and Long Beach, CA are about 1,273 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.