Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lincoln, NE
VS
Odessa, TX
🏆 Odessa leads 11 of 21 categories
Lincoln
Nebraska
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,846
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
290,531 ✓ Larger
Odessa
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.1
Median Household Income
$71,293 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
83 ✓ Safer
Population
113,353
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lincoln, NE
Pros
Rent averages $284/mo less ($998 vs $1,282)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (3.3%)
More college-educated — 40.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.0)
Cons
Median income trails Odessa by $3,447/yr
Odessa, TX
Pros
9% less violent crime than Lincoln
Homes cost $37k less ($193,500 vs $230,400)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 36°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.1)
Households earn $3,447 more per year on average
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 3.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lincoln
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
3.3% vs 6.1% unemployment
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 92.0 on the COL index
Odessa
Median Income
$3,447
$71,293 vs $67,846/yr
Odessa
Violent Crime
9% lower
316.3 vs 347.9 per 100k
Odessa
Median Home Value
$37k less
$193,500 vs $230,400
Odessa
Summer Heat
4.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.0°F vs 89.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lincoln, NE | Odessa, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.0 ✓ Cheaper | 92.1 |
| Median Home Value | $230,400 | $193,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $998 ✓ Lower | $1,282 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,846 | $71,293 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 23.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% ✓ Higher | 3.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 102⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 83 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) | — |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.9% ✓ Higher | 18.4% |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% ✓ Higher | 81.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS | UTPB STEM ACADEMY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.6°F | 56.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 30.9" | 12.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 26.0" | 0.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,531 ✓ Larger | 113,353 |
| Median Age | 33.1 ✓ Older | 30.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% | 59.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | 29.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% ✓ More | 9.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lincoln's cost of living index is 92.0 vs Odessa's 92.1 (US average = 100).
Lincoln is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Odessa leads 11 of 21 categories. Lincoln wins 10 and Odessa 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 Odessa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,400 vs $193,500 median home), income ($67,846 vs $71,293), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lincoln, NE and Odessa, TX are about 692 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.