Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lincoln, NE
VS
San Mateo, CA
🏆 San Mateo leads 12 of 23 categories
Lincoln
Nebraska
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,846
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
290,531 ✓ Larger
San Mateo
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$149,152 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
104,165
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lincoln, NE
Pros
Homes cost $1279k less ($230,400 vs $1,508,900)
Rent averages $1973/mo less ($998 vs $2,971)
26% cheaper overall cost of living than San Mateo
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (3.3%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.0)
Cons
Median income trails San Mateo by $81,306/yr
San Mateo, CA
Pros
Households earn $81,306 more per year on average
30% less violent crime than Lincoln
Violent crime is well below the national average (243.2 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 58.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 36°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 89°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,508,900
Higher rents — median is $2,971/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than Lincoln
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lincoln
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 92.0 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Lincoln
Median Home Value
$1279k less
$230,400 vs $1,508,900
Lincoln
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
3.3% vs 4.7% unemployment
Lincoln
Summer Heat
16.8°F warmer
July avg high 89.4°F vs 72.6°F
San Mateo
Median Income
$81,306
$149,152 vs $67,846/yr
San Mateo
Violent Crime
30% lower
243.2 vs 347.9 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lincoln, NE | San Mateo, 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 | $1,508,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $998 ✓ Lower | $2,971⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,846 | $149,152 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 4.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% | 19.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 102⚠ High | 74 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High | 90 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.9% | 58.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% ✓ Higher | 91.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS | San Mateo-Foster City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.6°F | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer | 72.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 30.9" | 19.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 26.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,531 ✓ Larger | 104,165 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% ✓ Higher | 51.6% |
| Under 18 | 22.0% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 16.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lincoln's cost of living index is 92.0 vs San Mateo's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Lincoln is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Mateo leads 12 of 23 categories. Lincoln wins 11 and San Mateo wins 12. 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 Mateo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,400 vs $1,508,900 median home), income ($67,846 vs $149,152), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lincoln, NE and San Mateo, CA are about 1,386 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.