Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lincoln, NE
VS
Memphis, TN
🏆 Lincoln leads 14 of 21 categories
Lincoln
Nebraska
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,846 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
290,531
Memphis
Tennessee
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4
Median Household Income
$48,090
Violent Crime Index
658⚠ High
Population
630,027 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lincoln, NE
Pros
86% less violent crime than Memphis
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.3 pts lower (3.3%)
Households earn $19,756 more per year on average
More college-educated — 40.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.0)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Memphis, TN
Pros
Homes cost $91k less ($139,600 vs $230,400)
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 36°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
Cons
Median income trails Lincoln by $19,756/yr
Violent crime (2501.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (6899.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 3.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lincoln
Median Income
$19,756
$67,846 vs $48,090/yr
Lincoln
Violent Crime
86% lower
347.9 vs 2501.3 per 100k
Lincoln
Unemployment
5.3 pp lower
3.3% vs 8.6% unemployment
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 92.0 on the COL index
Memphis
Median Home Value
$91k less
$139,600 vs $230,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lincoln, NE | Memphis, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.0 ✓ Cheaper | 92.4 |
| Median Home Value | $230,400 | $139,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $998 ✓ Lower | $1,050 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,846 ✓ Higher | $48,090 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 21.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% ✓ Higher | 6.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer | 400⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 658⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer | 329⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.9% ✓ Higher | 27.9% |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% ✓ Higher | 87.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS | Memphis-Shelby County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.6°F | 50.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 30.9" ✓ Drier | 54.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 26.0" | 2.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,531 | 630,027 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% ✓ Higher | 46.6% |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lincoln's cost of living index is 92.0 vs Memphis's 92.4 (US average = 100).
Lincoln is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Lincoln leads 14 of 21 categories. Lincoln wins 14 and Memphis 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 Memphis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,400 vs $139,600 median home), income ($67,846 vs $48,090), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lincoln, NE and Memphis, TN are about 537 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.