Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lincoln, NE
VS
Mesa, AZ
🏆 Mesa leads 12 of 23 categories
Lincoln
Nebraska
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,846
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
290,531
Mesa
Arizona
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$73,766 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
503,390 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lincoln, NE
Pros
Homes cost $97k less ($230,400 vs $327,700)
28% less violent crime than Mesa
Rent averages $354/mo less ($998 vs $1,352)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (3.3%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 40.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Mesa by $5,920/yr
Mesa, AZ
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 36°F
Households earn $5,920 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $327,700
Higher rents — median is $1,352/mo
Violent crime (482.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (4.7% vs 3.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lincoln
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 92.0 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Lincoln
Violent Crime
28% lower
347.9 vs 482.7 per 100k
Lincoln
Median Home Value
$97k less
$230,400 vs $327,700
Lincoln
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
3.3% vs 4.7% unemployment
Mesa
Median Income
$5,920
$73,766 vs $67,846/yr
Mesa
Summer Heat
16.5°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 89.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lincoln, NE | Mesa, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.0 ✓ Cheaper | 98.4 |
| Median Home Value | $230,400 ✓ Lower | $327,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $998 ✓ Lower | $1,352⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,846 | $73,766 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 4.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 24.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% | 14.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer | 104⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.9% ✓ Higher | 30.0% |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% ✓ Higher | 90.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS | Mesa Unified District (4235) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.6°F | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 30.9" | 9.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 26.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,531 | 503,390 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 36.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% | 63.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lincoln's cost of living index is 92.0 vs Mesa's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Lincoln is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Mesa leads 12 of 23 categories. Lincoln wins 11 and Mesa wins 12. 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 Mesa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,400 vs $327,700 median home), income ($67,846 vs $73,766), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lincoln, NE and Mesa, AZ are about 972 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.