Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lincoln, NE
VS
Round Rock, TX
🏆 Round Rock leads 13 of 23 categories
Lincoln
Nebraska
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,846
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
290,531 ✓ Larger
Round Rock
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6
Median Household Income
$91,888 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
34 ✓ Safer
Population
120,465
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lincoln, NE
Pros
Rent averages $588/mo less ($998 vs $1,586)
Homes cost $107k less ($230,400 vs $337,500)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (3.3%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.0)
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 96°F
Cons
Median income trails Round Rock by $24,042/yr
Round Rock, TX
Pros
62% less violent crime than Lincoln
Households earn $24,042 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (130.7 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 36°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,586/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $337,500
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Lincoln
Key Differences at a Glance
Lincoln
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 92.0 vs 97.6 (100 = US avg)
Lincoln
Median Home Value
$107k less
$230,400 vs $337,500
Lincoln
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
3.3% vs 3.8% unemployment
Round Rock
Median Income
$24,042
$91,888 vs $67,846/yr
Round Rock
Violent Crime
62% lower
130.7 vs 347.9 per 100k
Round Rock
Summer Heat
6.3°F warmer
July avg high 95.7°F vs 89.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lincoln, NE | Round Rock, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.0 ✓ Cheaper | 97.6 |
| Median Home Value | $230,400 ✓ Lower | $337,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $998 ✓ Lower | $1,586⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,846 | $91,888 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 3.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 25.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% | 19.6% ✓ 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 | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.9% | 42.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS | ROUND ROCK ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.6°F | 59.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F | 95.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 30.9" ✓ Drier | 36.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 26.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,531 ✓ Larger | 120,465 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 35.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% ✓ Higher | 55.6% |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% ✓ More | 10.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lincoln's cost of living index is 92.0 vs Round Rock's 97.6 (US average = 100).
Lincoln is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Round Rock leads 13 of 23 categories. Lincoln wins 10 and Round Rock 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 Round Rock or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,400 vs $337,500 median home), income ($67,846 vs $91,888), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lincoln, NE and Round Rock, TX are about 713 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.