Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lincoln, NE
VS
Ontario, CA
🏆 Lincoln leads 14 of 23 categories
Lincoln
Nebraska
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,846
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
290,531 ✓ Larger
Ontario
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,070 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
176,326
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lincoln, NE
Pros
Homes cost $283k less ($230,400 vs $513,000)
Rent averages $828/mo less ($998 vs $1,826)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (3.3%)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Ontario
More college-educated — 40.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Ontario by $10,224/yr
Ontario, CA
Pros
22% less violent crime than Lincoln
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 36°F
Households earn $10,224 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $513,000
Higher rents — median is $1,826/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Lincoln
Higher unemployment (5.8% 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
$283k less
$230,400 vs $513,000
Lincoln
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
3.3% vs 5.8% unemployment
Ontario
Median Income
$10,224
$78,070 vs $67,846/yr
Ontario
Violent Crime
22% lower
272.2 vs 347.9 per 100k
Ontario
Summer Heat
4.4°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 89.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lincoln, NE | Ontario, 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 | $513,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $998 ✓ Lower | $1,826⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,846 | $78,070 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 102⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High | 87 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) ✓ Better | C- (65) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.9% ✓ Higher | 19.2% |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% ✓ Higher | 76.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS | Ontario-Montclair |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.6°F | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 30.9" | 11.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 26.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,531 ✓ Larger | 176,326 |
| Median Age | 33.1 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% ✓ Higher | 55.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | 24.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% ✓ More | 10.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lincoln's cost of living index is 92.0 vs Ontario's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Lincoln is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lincoln leads 14 of 23 categories. Lincoln wins 14 and Ontario 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 Ontario or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,400 vs $513,000 median home), income ($67,846 vs $78,070), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lincoln, NE and Ontario, CA are about 1,236 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.