Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lincoln, NE
VS
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA
🏆 Lincoln leads 13 of 23 categories
Lincoln
Nebraska
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,846
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
290,531 ✓ Larger
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$96,036 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
93
Population
110,358
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lincoln, NE
Pros
Homes cost $484k less ($230,400 vs $714,000)
Rent averages $944/mo less ($998 vs $1,942)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (3.3%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.0)
Cons
Median income trails San Buenaventura (Ventura) by $28,190/yr
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA
Pros
Households earn $28,190 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 36°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 89°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $714,000
Higher rents — median is $1,942/mo
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Lincoln
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lincoln
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 92.0 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Lincoln
Median Home Value
$484k less
$230,400 vs $714,000
Lincoln
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
3.3% vs 4.9% unemployment
Lincoln
Summer Heat
16.5°F warmer
July avg high 89.4°F vs 72.9°F
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Median Income
$28,190
$96,036 vs $67,846/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lincoln, NE | San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.0 ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $230,400 ✓ Lower | $714,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $998 ✓ Lower | $1,942⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,846 | $96,036 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 4.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 24.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% | 13.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 102⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 93 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.9% ✓ Higher | 40.1% |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% ✓ Higher | 91.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS | Ventura Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.6°F | 65.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer | 72.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 30.9" | 16.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 26.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,531 ✓ Larger | 110,358 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 41.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% | 56.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.0% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 18.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lincoln's cost of living index is 92.0 vs San Buenaventura (Ventura)'s 113.5 (US average = 100).
Lincoln is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lincoln leads 13 of 23 categories. Lincoln wins 13 and San Buenaventura (Ventura) wins 10. 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 Buenaventura (Ventura) or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,400 vs $714,000 median home), income ($67,846 vs $96,036), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lincoln, NE and San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA are about 1,312 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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