Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lincoln, NE
VS
Modesto, CA
🏆 Lincoln leads 14 of 23 categories
Lincoln
Nebraska
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,846
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
290,531 ✓ Larger
Modesto
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,375 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
173⚠ High
Population
218,308
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lincoln, NE
Pros
Homes cost $151k less ($230,400 vs $381,800)
Rent averages $499/mo less ($998 vs $1,497)
47% less violent crime than Modesto
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.5 pts lower (3.3%)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 40.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Modesto by $5,529/yr
Modesto, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 36°F
Households earn $5,529 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $381,800
Higher rents — median is $1,497/mo
Violent crime (655.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Lincoln
Key Differences at a Glance
Lincoln
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 92.0 vs 105.0 (100 = US avg)
Lincoln
Violent Crime
47% lower
347.9 vs 655.7 per 100k
Lincoln
Median Home Value
$151k less
$230,400 vs $381,800
Lincoln
Unemployment
4.5 pp lower
3.3% vs 7.8% unemployment
Modesto
Median Income
$5,529
$73,375 vs $67,846/yr
Modesto
Summer Heat
5.6°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 89.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lincoln, NE | Modesto, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.0 ✓ Cheaper | 105.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $230,400 ✓ Lower | $381,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $998 ✓ Lower | $1,497⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,846 | $73,375 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 7.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 29.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% ✓ Higher | 6.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer | 150⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) ✓ Better | C- (65) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.9% ✓ Higher | 19.7% |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% ✓ Higher | 83.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS | Modesto City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.6°F | 56.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 30.9" | 12.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 26.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,531 ✓ Larger | 218,308 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 34.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% | 57.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | 26.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% ✓ More | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lincoln's cost of living index is 92.0 vs Modesto's 105.0 (US average = 100).
Lincoln is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lincoln leads 14 of 23 categories. Lincoln wins 14 and Modesto wins 9. 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 Modesto or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,400 vs $381,800 median home), income ($67,846 vs $73,375), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lincoln, NE and Modesto, CA are about 1,316 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.