Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lincoln, NE
VS
Newark, NJ
🏆 Lincoln leads 18 of 23 categories
Lincoln
Nebraska
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,846 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
290,531
Newark
New Jersey
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$46,460
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
307,355 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lincoln, NE
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 7.4 pts lower (3.3%)
Households earn $21,386 more per year on average
40% less violent crime than Newark
Homes cost $82k less ($230,400 vs $312,300)
Rent averages $275/mo less ($998 vs $1,273)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Newark
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Newark, NJ
Pros
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Cons
Median income trails Lincoln by $21,386/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $312,300
Violent crime (581.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Lincoln
Key Differences at a Glance
Lincoln
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 92.0 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Lincoln
Median Income
$21,386
$67,846 vs $46,460/yr
Lincoln
Violent Crime
40% lower
347.9 vs 581.2 per 100k
Lincoln
Median Home Value
$82k less
$230,400 vs $312,300
Lincoln
Unemployment
7.4 pp lower
3.3% vs 10.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lincoln, NE | Newark, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.0 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $230,400 ✓ Lower | $312,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $998 ✓ Lower | $1,273 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,846 ✓ Higher | $46,460 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 10.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% ✓ Higher | 4.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.9% ✓ Higher | 17.0% |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS | Newark Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.6°F | 39.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer | 86.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 30.9" ✓ Drier | 50.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 26.0" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,531 | 307,355 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 34.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% ✓ Higher | 23.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% ✓ More | 10.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lincoln's cost of living index is 92.0 vs Newark's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Lincoln is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lincoln leads 18 of 23 categories. Lincoln wins 18 and Newark wins 5. 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 Newark or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,400 vs $312,300 median home), income ($67,846 vs $46,460), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lincoln, NE and Newark, NJ are about 1,174 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.