Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lincoln, NE
VS
San Antonio, TX
🏆 Lincoln leads 15 of 23 categories
Lincoln
Nebraska
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,846 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
290,531
San Antonio
Texas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.7
Median Household Income
$59,593
Violent Crime Index
156⚠ High
Population
1,445,662 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lincoln, NE
Pros
41% less violent crime than San Antonio
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (3.3%)
Rent averages $191/mo less ($998 vs $1,189)
Households earn $8,253 more per year on average
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 40.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
San Antonio, TX
Pros
Homes cost $32k less ($198,000 vs $230,400)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 36°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.7)
Cons
Violent crime (594.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Lincoln by $8,253/yr
Property crime (4623.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 3.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lincoln
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 92.0 vs 93.7 (100 = US avg)
Lincoln
Median Income
$8,253
$67,846 vs $59,593/yr
Lincoln
Violent Crime
41% lower
347.9 vs 594.1 per 100k
Lincoln
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
3.3% vs 5.9% unemployment
San Antonio
Median Home Value
$32k less
$198,000 vs $230,400
San Antonio
Summer Heat
4.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.0°F vs 89.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lincoln, NE | San Antonio, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.0 ✓ Cheaper | 93.7 |
| Median Home Value | $230,400 | $198,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $998 ✓ Lower | $1,189 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,846 ✓ Higher | $59,593 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 24.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% | 9.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer | 182⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 156⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer | 220⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.9% ✓ Higher | 27.7% |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% ✓ Higher | 83.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS | NORTHSIDE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.6°F | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 30.9" ✓ Drier | 34.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 26.0" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,531 | 1,445,662 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 34.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% ✓ Higher | 51.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lincoln's cost of living index is 92.0 vs San Antonio's 93.7 (US average = 100).
Lincoln is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lincoln leads 15 of 23 categories. Lincoln wins 15 and San Antonio 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 San Antonio or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,400 vs $198,000 median home), income ($67,846 vs $59,593), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lincoln, NE and San Antonio, TX are about 791 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.