Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lincoln, NE
VS
Santa Ana, 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
Santa Ana
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,210 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
130⚠ High
Population
311,379 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lincoln, NE
Pros
Homes cost $394k less ($230,400 vs $624,000)
Rent averages $887/mo less ($998 vs $1,885)
29% less violent crime than Santa Ana
24% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Ana
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (3.3%)
More college-educated — 40.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Santa Ana by $16,364/yr
Santa Ana, CA
Pros
Households earn $16,364 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 36°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 89°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $624,000
Higher rents — median is $1,885/mo
Violent crime (493.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 24% higher than Lincoln
Key Differences at a Glance
Lincoln
Cost of Living
24% cheaper
COL index 92.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Lincoln
Violent Crime
29% lower
347.9 vs 493.1 per 100k
Lincoln
Median Home Value
$394k less
$230,400 vs $624,000
Lincoln
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
3.3% vs 5.5% unemployment
Lincoln
Summer Heat
6.9°F warmer
July avg high 89.4°F vs 82.5°F
Santa Ana
Median Income
$16,364
$84,210 vs $67,846/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lincoln, NE | Santa Ana, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.0 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $230,400 ✓ Lower | $624,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $998 ✓ Lower | $1,885⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,846 | $84,210 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 25.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% ✓ Higher | 8.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer | 110⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High | 81 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.9% ✓ Higher | 17.9% |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% ✓ Higher | 65.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS | Santa Ana Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.6°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 30.9" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 26.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,531 | 311,379 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 33.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lincoln's cost of living index is 92.0 vs Santa Ana's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Lincoln is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lincoln leads 15 of 23 categories. Lincoln wins 15 and Santa Ana 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 Santa Ana or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,400 vs $624,000 median home), income ($67,846 vs $84,210), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lincoln, NE and Santa Ana, CA are about 1,260 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.