Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lincoln, NE
VS
San Francisco, 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
San Francisco
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
117.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,689 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High
Population
851,036 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lincoln, NE
Pros
Homes cost $1118k less ($230,400 vs $1,348,700)
Rent averages $1318/mo less ($998 vs $2,316)
42% less violent crime than San Francisco
25% cheaper overall cost of living than San Francisco
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (3.3%)
Cons
Median income trails San Francisco by $68,843/yr
San Francisco, CA
Pros
Households earn $68,843 more per year on average
More college-educated — 59.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 62°F vs 89°F
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 36°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,348,700
Higher rents — median is $2,316/mo
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Lincoln
Violent crime (596.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Lincoln
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 92.0 vs 117.1 (100 = US avg)
Lincoln
Violent Crime
42% lower
347.9 vs 596.5 per 100k
Lincoln
Median Home Value
$1118k less
$230,400 vs $1,348,700
Lincoln
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
3.3% vs 5.4% unemployment
Lincoln
Summer Heat
27.6°F warmer
July avg high 89.4°F vs 61.8°F
San Francisco
Median Income
$68,843
$136,689 vs $67,846/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lincoln, NE | San Francisco, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.0 ✓ Cheaper | 117.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $230,400 ✓ Lower | $1,348,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $998 ✓ Lower | $2,316⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,846 | $136,689 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 31.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% | 23.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer | 187⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.9% | 59.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% ✓ Higher | 88.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS | San Francisco Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.6°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer | 61.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 30.9" | 30.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 26.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,531 | 851,036 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 39.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% ✓ Higher | 38.6% |
| Under 18 | 22.0% ✓ More | 13.6% |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lincoln's cost of living index is 92.0 vs San Francisco's 117.1 (US average = 100).
Lincoln is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lincoln leads 13 of 23 categories. Lincoln wins 13 and San Francisco 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 Francisco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,400 vs $1,348,700 median home), income ($67,846 vs $136,689), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lincoln, NE and San Francisco, CA are about 1,420 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.