Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lincoln, NE
VS
Palm Coast, FL
🏆 Lincoln leads 13 of 20 categories
Lincoln
Nebraska
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,846
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
290,531 ✓ Larger
Palm Coast
Florida
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$68,824 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
91,082
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lincoln, NE
Pros
Rent averages $623/mo less ($998 vs $1,621)
Homes cost $53k less ($230,400 vs $283,300)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (3.3%)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Palm Coast
More college-educated — 40.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Palm Coast, FL
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 36°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,621/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Lincoln
Higher unemployment (4.1% vs 3.3%)
Longer commutes — 28.0 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Lincoln
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 92.0 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Lincoln
Median Home Value
$53k less
$230,400 vs $283,300
Lincoln
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
3.3% vs 4.1% unemployment
Palm Coast
Median Income
$978
$68,824 vs $67,846/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lincoln, NE | Palm Coast, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.0 ✓ Cheaper | 104.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $230,400 ✓ Lower | $283,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $998 ✓ Lower | $1,621⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,846 | $68,824 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 4.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 28.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% | 13.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 102⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.9% ✓ Higher | 26.4% |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% ✓ Higher | 91.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS | FLAGLER |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.6°F | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer | 87.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 30.9" ✓ Drier | 51.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 26.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,531 ✓ Larger | 91,082 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 50.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% | 77.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.0% ✓ More | 17.6% |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 29.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lincoln's cost of living index is 92.0 vs Palm Coast's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Lincoln is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Lincoln leads 13 of 20 categories. Lincoln wins 13 and Palm Coast wins 7. 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 Coast or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,400 vs $283,300 median home), income ($67,846 vs $68,824), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lincoln, NE and Palm Coast, FL are about 1,166 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.