Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lincoln, NE
VS
Rochester, MN
🏆 Rochester leads 13 of 22 categories
Lincoln
Nebraska
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,846
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
290,531 ✓ Larger
Rochester
Minnesota
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1
Median Household Income
$83,973 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
120,848
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lincoln, NE
Pros
Rent averages $220/mo less ($998 vs $1,218)
Homes cost $38k less ($230,400 vs $268,800)
Milder winters — January highs near 36°F vs 23°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.0)
Cons
Median income trails Rochester by $16,127/yr
Rochester, MN
Pros
56% less violent crime than Lincoln
Households earn $16,127 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (154.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 49.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.1)
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 89°F
Cons
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Lincoln
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 92.0 vs 93.1 (100 = US avg)
Lincoln
Median Home Value
$38k less
$230,400 vs $268,800
Lincoln
Summer Heat
9.1°F warmer
July avg high 89.4°F vs 80.3°F
Rochester
Median Income
$16,127
$83,973 vs $67,846/yr
Rochester
Violent Crime
56% lower
154.0 vs 347.9 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lincoln, NE | Rochester, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.0 ✓ Cheaper | 93.1 |
| Median Home Value | $230,400 ✓ Lower | $268,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $998 ✓ Lower | $1,218 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,846 | $83,973 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% | 10.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 102⚠ High | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.9% | 49.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% | 94.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS | Rochester Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.6°F ✓ Warmer | 22.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 30.9" ✓ Drier | 37.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 26.0" ✓ Less | 52.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,531 ✓ Larger | 120,848 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% | 65.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 15.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lincoln's cost of living index is 92.0 vs Rochester's 93.1 (US average = 100).
Lincoln is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Rochester leads 13 of 22 categories. Lincoln wins 9 and Rochester 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 Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,400 vs $268,800 median home), income ($67,846 vs $83,973), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lincoln, NE and Rochester, MN are about 308 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.