Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lincoln, NE
VS
Peoria, AZ
🏆 Peoria leads 13 of 23 categories
Lincoln
Nebraska
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,846
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
290,531 ✓ Larger
Peoria
Arizona
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,759 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
191,292
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lincoln, NE
Pros
Homes cost $153k less ($230,400 vs $383,600)
Rent averages $640/mo less ($998 vs $1,638)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (3.3%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 105°F
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Peoria
Cons
Median income trails Peoria by $18,913/yr
Peoria, AZ
Pros
27% less violent crime than Lincoln
Households earn $18,913 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.7 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 36°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $383,600
Higher rents — median is $1,638/mo
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Lincoln
Longer commutes — 29.2 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Lincoln
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 92.0 vs 100.7 (100 = US avg)
Lincoln
Median Home Value
$153k less
$230,400 vs $383,600
Lincoln
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
3.3% vs 3.9% unemployment
Peoria
Median Income
$18,913
$86,759 vs $67,846/yr
Peoria
Violent Crime
27% lower
254.7 vs 347.9 per 100k
Peoria
Summer Heat
15.2°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 89.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lincoln, NE | Peoria, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.0 ✓ Cheaper | 100.7⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $230,400 ✓ Lower | $383,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $998 ✓ Lower | $1,638⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,846 | $86,759 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 3.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 29.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% | 17.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 102⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 67 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High | 57 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.9% ✓ Higher | 34.8% |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% ✓ Higher | 92.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS | Peoria Unified School District (4237) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.6°F | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 30.9" | 10.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 26.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,531 ✓ Larger | 191,292 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 41.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% | 75.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | 22.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 18.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lincoln's cost of living index is 92.0 vs Peoria's 100.7 (US average = 100).
Lincoln is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Peoria leads 13 of 23 categories. Lincoln wins 10 and Peoria wins 13. 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 Peoria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,400 vs $383,600 median home), income ($67,846 vs $86,759), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lincoln, NE and Peoria, AZ are about 985 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.