Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lincoln, NE
VS
Palm Bay, FL
🏆 Lincoln leads 13 of 23 categories
Lincoln
Nebraska
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,846 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
290,531 ✓ Larger
Palm Bay
Florida
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$62,538
Violent Crime Index
91 ✓ Safer
Population
121,513
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lincoln, NE
Pros
Rent averages $347/mo less ($998 vs $1,345)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (3.3%)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 40.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Palm Bay
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.0)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Palm Bay, FL
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 73°F vs 36°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,345/mo
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 3.3%)
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Lincoln
Median income trails Lincoln by $5,308/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Lincoln
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 92.0 vs 100.8 (100 = US avg)
Lincoln
Median Income
$5,308
$67,846 vs $62,538/yr
Lincoln
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
3.3% vs 5.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lincoln, NE | Palm Bay, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.0 ✓ Cheaper | 100.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $230,400 | $226,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $998 ✓ Lower | $1,345⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,846 ✓ Higher | $62,538 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 27.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% ✓ Higher | 7.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 102⚠ High | 74 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 91 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.9% ✓ Higher | 22.0% |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% ✓ Higher | 90.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS | BREVARD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.6°F | 72.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F | 91.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 30.9" ✓ Drier | 60.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 26.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,531 ✓ Larger | 121,513 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 41.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% | 79.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.0% ✓ More | 21.9% |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 19.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lincoln's cost of living index is 92.0 vs Palm Bay's 100.8 (US average = 100).
Lincoln is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lincoln leads 13 of 23 categories. Lincoln wins 13 and Palm Bay 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 Palm Bay or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,400 vs $226,200 median home), income ($67,846 vs $62,538), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lincoln, NE and Palm Bay, FL are about 1,270 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.