Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lincoln, NE
VS
Paterson, NJ
🏆 Lincoln leads 19 of 22 categories
Lincoln
Nebraska
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,846 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
290,531 ✓ Larger
Paterson
New Jersey
3
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$52,092
Violent Crime Index
258⚠ High
Population
157,864
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 7.2 pts lower (3.3%)
64% less violent crime than Paterson
Rent averages $394/mo less ($998 vs $1,392)
Homes cost $84k less ($230,400 vs $314,100)
Households earn $15,754 more per year on average
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Paterson
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Paterson, NJ
Pros
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,392/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $314,100
Violent crime (978.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Lincoln by $15,754/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Lincoln
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 92.0 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Lincoln
Median Income
$15,754
$67,846 vs $52,092/yr
Lincoln
Violent Crime
64% lower
347.9 vs 978.6 per 100k
Lincoln
Median Home Value
$84k less
$230,400 vs $314,100
Lincoln
Unemployment
7.2 pp lower
3.3% vs 10.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lincoln, NE | Paterson, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.0 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $230,400 ✓ Lower | $314,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $998 ✓ Lower | $1,392⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,846 ✓ Higher | $52,092 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 10.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 23.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% ✓ Higher | 3.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 258⚠ 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 ✓ Smaller | 14.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.9% ✓ Higher | 12.6% |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% ✓ Higher | 76.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS | Paterson Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.6°F | 39.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 30.9" ✓ Drier | 49.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 26.0" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,531 ✓ Larger | 157,864 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% ✓ Higher | 26.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | 27.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% ✓ More | 11.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lincoln's cost of living index is 92.0 vs Paterson's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Lincoln is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Lincoln leads 19 of 22 categories. Lincoln wins 19 and Paterson wins 3. 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 Paterson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,400 vs $314,100 median home), income ($67,846 vs $52,092), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lincoln, NE and Paterson, NJ are about 1,173 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.