Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lincoln, NE
VS
San Leandro, CA
🏆 Lincoln leads 15 of 23 categories
Lincoln
Nebraska
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,846
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
290,531 ✓ Larger
San Leandro
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,141 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High
Population
89,723
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lincoln, NE
Pros
Homes cost $542k less ($230,400 vs $772,700)
Rent averages $999/mo less ($998 vs $1,997)
37% less violent crime than San Leandro
26% cheaper overall cost of living than San Leandro
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (3.3%)
Cons
Median income trails San Leandro by $29,295/yr
San Leandro, CA
Pros
Households earn $29,295 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 36°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 72°F vs 89°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $772,700
Higher rents — median is $1,997/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than Lincoln
Violent crime (548.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Lincoln
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 92.0 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Lincoln
Violent Crime
37% lower
347.9 vs 548.7 per 100k
Lincoln
Median Home Value
$542k less
$230,400 vs $772,700
Lincoln
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
3.3% vs 5.0% unemployment
Lincoln
Summer Heat
17.8°F warmer
July avg high 89.4°F vs 71.6°F
San Leandro
Median Income
$29,295
$97,141 vs $67,846/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lincoln, NE | San Leandro, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.0 ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $230,400 ✓ Lower | $772,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $998 ✓ Lower | $1,997⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,846 | $97,141 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 32.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% | 11.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer | 161⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 144⚠ 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) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.9% ✓ Higher | 32.9% |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% ✓ Higher | 84.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS | San Leandro Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.6°F | 57.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer | 71.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 30.9" | 18.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 26.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,531 ✓ Larger | 89,723 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 41.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% | 57.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.0% ✓ More | 17.1% |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 17.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lincoln's cost of living index is 92.0 vs San Leandro's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Lincoln is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lincoln leads 15 of 23 categories. Lincoln wins 15 and San Leandro 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 Leandro or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,400 vs $772,700 median home), income ($67,846 vs $97,141), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lincoln, NE and San Leandro, CA are about 1,375 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.