Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lincoln, NE
VS
Pueblo, CO
🏆 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 ✓ Safer
Population
290,531 ✓ Larger
Pueblo
Colorado
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4
Median Household Income
$52,794
Violent Crime Index
375⚠ High
Population
111,430
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lincoln, NE
Pros
76% less violent crime than Pueblo
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (3.3%)
Households earn $15,052 more per year on average
More college-educated — 40.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.0)
Smaller class sizes — 13.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Pueblo, CO
Pros
Homes cost $33k less ($197,700 vs $230,400)
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 36°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
Cons
Violent crime (1424.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Lincoln by $15,052/yr
Property crime (4942.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 3.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lincoln
Median Income
$15,052
$67,846 vs $52,794/yr
Lincoln
Violent Crime
76% lower
347.9 vs 1424.1 per 100k
Lincoln
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
3.3% vs 6.6% unemployment
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 92.0 on the COL index
Pueblo
Median Home Value
$33k less
$197,700 vs $230,400
Pueblo
Summer Heat
3.6°F warmer
July avg high 93.0°F vs 89.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lincoln, NE | Pueblo, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.0 ✓ Cheaper | 92.4 |
| Median Home Value | $230,400 | $197,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $998 | $940 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,846 ✓ Higher | $52,794 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 19.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% ✓ Higher | 5.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer | 319⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 375⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer | 235⚠ High |
| 🎓 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 | 16.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.9% ✓ Higher | 21.8% |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% ✓ Higher | 88.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS | Pueblo School District No. 60 in the county of Pueblo and |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.6°F | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F | 93.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 30.9" | 14.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 26.0" | 14.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,531 ✓ Larger | 111,430 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 37.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% | 59.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | 22.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 18.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lincoln's cost of living index is 92.0 vs Pueblo's 92.4 (US average = 100).
Lincoln is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lincoln leads 13 of 23 categories. Lincoln wins 13 and Pueblo 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 Pueblo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,400 vs $197,700 median home), income ($67,846 vs $52,794), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lincoln, NE and Pueblo, CO are about 457 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.