Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lincoln, NE
VS
Montgomery, AL
🏆 Lincoln leads 14 of 23 categories
Lincoln
Nebraska
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.0
Median Household Income
$67,846 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
290,531 ✓ Larger
Montgomery
Alabama
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,166
Violent Crime Index
156⚠ High
Population
199,819
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lincoln, NE
Pros
41% less violent crime than Montgomery
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.9 pts lower (3.3%)
Households earn $13,680 more per year on average
More college-educated — 40.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.0)
Smaller class sizes — 13.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Montgomery, AL
Pros
Homes cost $89k less ($141,900 vs $230,400)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 36°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Violent crime (594.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Lincoln by $13,680/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 3.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lincoln
Median Income
$13,680
$67,846 vs $54,166/yr
Lincoln
Violent Crime
41% lower
347.9 vs 594.6 per 100k
Lincoln
Unemployment
3.9 pp lower
3.3% vs 7.2% unemployment
Montgomery
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 92.0 (100 = US avg)
Montgomery
Median Home Value
$89k less
$141,900 vs $230,400
Montgomery
Summer Heat
4.8°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 89.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lincoln, NE | Montgomery, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.0 | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $230,400 | $141,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $998 ✓ Lower | $1,026 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,846 ✓ Higher | $54,166 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 19.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% ✓ Higher | 6.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer | 136⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 156⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.9% ✓ Higher | 33.1% |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS | Montgomery County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.6°F | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 30.9" ✓ Drier | 54.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 26.0" | 0.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,531 ✓ Larger | 199,819 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 36.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% ✓ Higher | 53.5% |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | 23.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lincoln's cost of living index is 92.0 vs Montgomery's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Montgomery is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lincoln leads 14 of 23 categories. Lincoln wins 14 and Montgomery 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 Montgomery or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,400 vs $141,900 median home), income ($67,846 vs $54,166), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lincoln, NE and Montgomery, AL are about 821 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.