Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lincoln, NE
VS
Moreno Valley, CA
🏆 Lincoln leads 13 of 23 categories
Lincoln
Nebraska
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,846
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
290,531 ✓ Larger
Moreno Valley
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,637 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
209,578
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lincoln, NE
Pros
Rent averages $860/mo less ($998 vs $1,858)
Homes cost $191k less ($230,400 vs $421,400)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.2 pts lower (3.3%)
Commutes run 17 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 40.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Moreno Valley
Cons
Median income trails Moreno Valley by $14,791/yr
Moreno Valley, CA
Pros
22% less violent crime than Lincoln
Households earn $14,791 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 36°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,858/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $421,400
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Lincoln
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 3.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lincoln
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 92.0 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Lincoln
Median Home Value
$191k less
$230,400 vs $421,400
Lincoln
Unemployment
4.2 pp lower
3.3% vs 7.5% unemployment
Moreno Valley
Median Income
$14,791
$82,637 vs $67,846/yr
Moreno Valley
Violent Crime
22% lower
272.5 vs 347.9 per 100k
Moreno Valley
Summer Heat
4.7°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 89.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lincoln, NE | Moreno Valley, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.0 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $230,400 ✓ Lower | $421,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $998 ✓ Lower | $1,858⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,846 | $82,637 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 35.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% ✓ Higher | 5.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 102⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.9% ✓ Higher | 17.2% |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% ✓ Higher | 79.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS | Moreno Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.6°F | 65.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 30.9" | 10.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 26.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,531 ✓ Larger | 209,578 |
| Median Age | 33.1 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% | 63.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | 27.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% ✓ More | 9.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lincoln's cost of living index is 92.0 vs Moreno Valley's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Lincoln is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lincoln leads 13 of 23 categories. Lincoln wins 13 and Moreno Valley wins 10. 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 Moreno Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,400 vs $421,400 median home), income ($67,846 vs $82,637), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lincoln, NE and Moreno Valley, CA are about 1,220 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.