Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lincoln, NE
VS
Metairie, LA
🏆 Lincoln leads 15 of 23 categories
Lincoln
Nebraska
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.0
Median Household Income
$67,846
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
290,531 ✓ Larger
Metairie
Louisiana
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,070 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High
Population
140,046
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lincoln, NE
Pros
11% less violent crime than Metairie
Homes cost $59k less ($230,400 vs $289,800)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (3.3%)
Rent averages $122/mo less ($998 vs $1,120)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.0)
Cons
Median income trails Metairie by $4,224/yr
Metairie, LA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 36°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.1)
Households earn $4,224 more per year on average
Cons
Property crime (2629.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.3% vs 3.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lincoln
Violent Crime
11% lower
347.9 vs 390.1 per 100k
Lincoln
Median Home Value
$59k less
$230,400 vs $289,800
Lincoln
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
3.3% vs 4.3% unemployment
Metairie
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 91.1 vs 92.0 (100 = US avg)
Metairie
Median Income
$4,224
$72,070 vs $67,846/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lincoln, NE | Metairie, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.0 | 91.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $230,400 ✓ Lower | $289,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $998 ✓ Lower | $1,120 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,846 | $72,070 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 4.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 21.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% ✓ Higher | 8.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 103⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer | 125⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.9% ✓ Higher | 39.0% |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% ✓ Higher | 92.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS | Jefferson Parish |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.6°F | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F | 91.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 30.9" ✓ Drier | 68.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 26.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,531 ✓ Larger | 140,046 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 42.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% | 62.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.0% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 21.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lincoln's cost of living index is 92.0 vs Metairie's 91.1 (US average = 100).
Metairie is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lincoln leads 15 of 23 categories. Lincoln wins 15 and Metairie wins 8. 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 Metairie or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,400 vs $289,800 median home), income ($67,846 vs $72,070), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lincoln, NE and Metairie, LA are about 831 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.