Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lincoln, NE
VS
Richardson, TX
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Lincoln
Nebraska
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,846
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
290,531 ✓ Larger
Richardson
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,362 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
118,063
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lincoln, NE
Pros
Rent averages $727/mo less ($998 vs $1,725)
Homes cost $149k less ($230,400 vs $379,800)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (3.3%)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Richardson
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.0)
Cons
Median income trails Richardson by $26,516/yr
Richardson, TX
Pros
58% less violent crime than Lincoln
Households earn $26,516 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.7 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 36°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,725/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $379,800
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Lincoln
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 3.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lincoln
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 92.0 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Lincoln
Median Home Value
$149k less
$230,400 vs $379,800
Lincoln
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
3.3% vs 5.0% unemployment
Richardson
Median Income
$26,516
$94,362 vs $67,846/yr
Richardson
Violent Crime
58% lower
146.7 vs 347.9 per 100k
Richardson
Summer Heat
4.9°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 89.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lincoln, NE | Richardson, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.0 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $230,400 ✓ Lower | $379,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $998 ✓ Lower | $1,725⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,846 | $94,362 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 23.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% | 19.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 102⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High | 87 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) | A+ (133) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 | 13.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.9% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% ✓ Higher | 92.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS | RICHARDSON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.6°F | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 30.9" ✓ Drier | 40.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 26.0" | 1.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,531 ✓ Larger | 118,063 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% ✓ Higher | 51.6% |
| Under 18 | 22.0% ✓ More | 21.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.0% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lincoln's cost of living index is 92.0 vs Richardson's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Lincoln is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Lincoln wins 11 and Richardson wins 11. 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 Richardson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,400 vs $379,800 median home), income ($67,846 vs $94,362), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lincoln, NE and Richardson, TX are about 541 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.