Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lincoln, NE
VS
Pasadena, TX
🏆 Lincoln leads 16 of 23 categories
Lincoln
Nebraska
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,846 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
290,531 ✓ Larger
Pasadena
Texas
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,698
Violent Crime Index
149⚠ High
Population
150,620
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 5.6 pts lower (3.3%)
39% less violent crime than Pasadena
More college-educated — 40.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $161/mo less ($998 vs $1,159)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Pasadena
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Pasadena, TX
Pros
Homes cost $59k less ($171,600 vs $230,400)
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 36°F
Cons
Violent crime (566.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.9% vs 3.3%)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Lincoln
Median income trails Lincoln by $3,148/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Lincoln
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 92.0 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Lincoln
Median Income
$3,148
$67,846 vs $64,698/yr
Lincoln
Violent Crime
39% lower
347.9 vs 566.1 per 100k
Lincoln
Unemployment
5.6 pp lower
3.3% vs 8.9% unemployment
Pasadena
Median Home Value
$59k less
$171,600 vs $230,400
Pasadena
Summer Heat
3.5°F warmer
July avg high 92.9°F vs 89.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lincoln, NE | Pasadena, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.0 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $230,400 | $171,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $998 ✓ Lower | $1,159 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,846 ✓ Higher | $64,698 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 8.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 25.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer | 134⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 149⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.9% ✓ Higher | 15.9% |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% ✓ Higher | 73.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS | PASADENA ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.6°F | 63.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F | 92.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 30.9" ✓ Drier | 57.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 26.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,531 ✓ Larger | 150,620 |
| Median Age | 33.1 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% ✓ Higher | 53.8% |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% ✓ More | 11.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lincoln's cost of living index is 92.0 vs Pasadena's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Lincoln is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lincoln leads 16 of 23 categories. Lincoln wins 16 and Pasadena 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 Pasadena or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,400 vs $171,600 median home), income ($67,846 vs $64,698), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lincoln, NE and Pasadena, TX are about 775 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.