Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lincoln, NE
VS
New Braunfels, TX
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Lincoln
Nebraska
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,846
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
290,531 ✓ Larger
New Braunfels
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.7
Median Household Income
$85,827 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
92,993
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lincoln, NE
Pros
Rent averages $428/mo less ($998 vs $1,426)
Homes cost $60k less ($230,400 vs $290,800)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (3.3%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.0)
Cons
Median income trails New Braunfels by $17,981/yr
New Braunfels, TX
Pros
55% less violent crime than Lincoln
Households earn $17,981 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (156.4 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 36°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.7)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,426/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Lincoln
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 92.0 vs 93.7 (100 = US avg)
Lincoln
Median Home Value
$60k less
$230,400 vs $290,800
Lincoln
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
3.3% vs 3.8% unemployment
New Braunfels
Median Income
$17,981
$85,827 vs $67,846/yr
New Braunfels
Violent Crime
55% lower
156.4 vs 347.9 per 100k
New Braunfels
Summer Heat
4.0°F warmer
July avg high 93.4°F vs 89.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lincoln, NE | New Braunfels, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.0 ✓ Cheaper | 93.7 |
| Median Home Value | $230,400 ✓ Lower | $290,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $998 ✓ Lower | $1,426⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,846 | $85,827 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 3.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 26.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% | 11.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 102⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) | B+ (106) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.9% ✓ Higher | 38.0% |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% ✓ Higher | 91.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS | COMAL ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.6°F | 61.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F | 93.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 30.9" ✓ Drier | 35.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 26.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,531 ✓ Larger | 92,993 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 36.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% | 63.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% ✓ More | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lincoln's cost of living index is 92.0 vs New Braunfels's 93.7 (US average = 100).
Lincoln is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Lincoln wins 11 and New Braunfels wins 11. 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 New Braunfels or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,400 vs $290,800 median home), income ($67,846 vs $85,827), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lincoln, NE and New Braunfels, TX are about 772 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.