Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lincoln, NE
VS
Reno, NV
🏆 Lincoln leads 15 of 23 categories
Lincoln
Nebraska
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,846
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
290,531 ✓ Larger
Reno
Nevada
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,073 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High
Population
265,196
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lincoln, NE
Pros
Homes cost $232k less ($230,400 vs $462,100)
34% less violent crime than Reno
Rent averages $362/mo less ($998 vs $1,360)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (3.3%)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Reno
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.0)
Cons
Median income trails Reno by $5,227/yr
Reno, NV
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 46°F vs 36°F
Households earn $5,227 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $462,100
Higher rents — median is $1,360/mo
Violent crime (529.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Lincoln
Key Differences at a Glance
Lincoln
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 92.0 vs 102.8 (100 = US avg)
Lincoln
Violent Crime
34% lower
347.9 vs 529.6 per 100k
Lincoln
Median Home Value
$232k less
$230,400 vs $462,100
Lincoln
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
3.3% vs 5.0% unemployment
Reno
Median Income
$5,227
$73,073 vs $67,846/yr
Reno
Summer Heat
3.3°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 89.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lincoln, NE | Reno, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.0 ✓ Cheaper | 102.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $230,400 ✓ Lower | $462,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $998 ✓ Lower | $1,360⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,846 | $73,073 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 20.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% | 9.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High | 116⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.9% ✓ Higher | 35.3% |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% ✓ Higher | 89.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS | Washoe County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.6°F | 45.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 30.9" | 9.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 26.0" ✓ Less | 33.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,531 ✓ Larger | 265,196 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% ✓ Higher | 48.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.0% ✓ More | 19.8% |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lincoln's cost of living index is 92.0 vs Reno's 102.8 (US average = 100).
Lincoln is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lincoln leads 15 of 23 categories. Lincoln wins 15 and Reno wins 8. 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 Reno or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,400 vs $462,100 median home), income ($67,846 vs $73,073), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lincoln, NE and Reno, NV are about 1,223 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.