Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lincoln, NE
VS
Meridian, ID
🏆 Meridian leads 15 of 23 categories
Lincoln
Nebraska
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,846
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
290,531 ✓ Larger
Meridian
Idaho
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4
Median Household Income
$93,296 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
119,872
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lincoln, NE
Pros
Homes cost $195k less ($230,400 vs $425,800)
Rent averages $550/mo less ($998 vs $1,548)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.0)
Smaller class sizes — 13.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Meridian by $25,450/yr
Meridian, ID
Pros
58% less violent crime than Lincoln
Households earn $25,450 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.8 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (2.7%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $425,800
Higher rents — median is $1,548/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Lincoln
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 92.0 vs 93.4 (100 = US avg)
Lincoln
Median Home Value
$195k less
$230,400 vs $425,800
Meridian
Median Income
$25,450
$93,296 vs $67,846/yr
Meridian
Violent Crime
58% lower
146.8 vs 347.9 per 100k
Meridian
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
2.7% vs 3.3% unemployment
Meridian
Summer Heat
3.3°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 89.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lincoln, NE | Meridian, ID |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.0 ✓ Cheaper | 93.4 |
| Median Home Value | $230,400 ✓ Lower | $425,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $998 ✓ Lower | $1,548⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,846 | $93,296 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% | 2.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 22.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% | 14.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 102⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High | 27 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.9% | 43.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% | 96.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS | JOINT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 2 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.6°F | 38.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 30.9" | 12.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 26.0" | 18.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,531 ✓ Larger | 119,872 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% | 76.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | 27.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% ✓ More | 13.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lincoln's cost of living index is 92.0 vs Meridian's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Lincoln is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Meridian leads 15 of 23 categories. Lincoln wins 8 and Meridian wins 15. 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 Meridian or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,400 vs $425,800 median home), income ($67,846 vs $93,296), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lincoln, NE and Meridian, ID are about 1,025 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.