Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lincoln, NE
VS
Roseville, CA
🏆 Roseville leads 15 of 23 categories
Lincoln
Nebraska
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,846
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
290,531 ✓ Larger
Roseville
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$112,265 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
148,879
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lincoln, NE
Pros
Homes cost $366k less ($230,400 vs $596,700)
Rent averages $942/mo less ($998 vs $1,940)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Roseville
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (3.3%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.0)
Cons
Median income trails Roseville by $44,419/yr
Roseville, CA
Pros
Households earn $44,419 more per year on average
37% less violent crime than Lincoln
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.2 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 36°F
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $596,700
Higher rents — median is $1,940/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Lincoln
Higher unemployment (4.5% vs 3.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lincoln
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 92.0 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Lincoln
Median Home Value
$366k less
$230,400 vs $596,700
Lincoln
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
3.3% vs 4.5% unemployment
Roseville
Median Income
$44,419
$112,265 vs $67,846/yr
Roseville
Violent Crime
37% lower
219.2 vs 347.9 per 100k
Roseville
Summer Heat
4.2°F warmer
July avg high 93.6°F vs 89.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lincoln, NE | Roseville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.0 ✓ Cheaper | 108.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $230,400 ✓ Lower | $596,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $998 ✓ Lower | $1,940⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,846 | $112,265 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 4.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 27.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% | 19.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 102⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High | 68 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.9% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% | 95.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS | Roseville City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.6°F | 55.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F | 93.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 30.9" | 20.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 26.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,531 ✓ Larger | 148,879 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 39.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% | 68.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | 22.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 17.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lincoln's cost of living index is 92.0 vs Roseville's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Lincoln is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Roseville leads 15 of 23 categories. Lincoln wins 8 and Roseville wins 15. 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 Roseville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,400 vs $596,700 median home), income ($67,846 vs $112,265), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lincoln, NE and Roseville, CA are about 1,311 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.