Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lincoln, NE
VS
Santa Clara, CA
🏆 Lincoln leads 12 of 23 categories
Lincoln
Nebraska
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,846
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
290,531 ✓ Larger
Santa Clara
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$165,352 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
48 ✓ Safer
Population
128,058
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lincoln, NE
Pros
Homes cost $1210k less ($230,400 vs $1,440,200)
Rent averages $1843/mo less ($998 vs $2,841)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Clara
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (3.3%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.0)
Cons
Median income trails Santa Clara by $97,506/yr
Santa Clara, CA
Pros
Households earn $97,506 more per year on average
48% less violent crime than Lincoln
Violent crime is well below the national average (182.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 64.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 36°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 89°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,440,200
Higher rents — median is $2,841/mo
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Lincoln
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lincoln
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 92.0 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Lincoln
Median Home Value
$1210k less
$230,400 vs $1,440,200
Lincoln
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
3.3% vs 4.2% unemployment
Lincoln
Summer Heat
8.6°F warmer
July avg high 89.4°F vs 80.8°F
Santa Clara
Median Income
$97,506
$165,352 vs $67,846/yr
Santa Clara
Violent Crime
48% lower
182.0 vs 347.9 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lincoln, NE | Santa Clara, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.0 ✓ Cheaper | 112.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $230,400 ✓ Lower | $1,440,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $998 ✓ Lower | $2,841⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,846 | $165,352 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 4.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 23.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% | 21.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 102⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer | 119⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) | A- (110) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.9% | 64.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% | 94.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS | Santa Clara Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.6°F | 59.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer | 80.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 30.9" | 15.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 26.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,531 ✓ Larger | 128,058 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% ✓ Higher | 41.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.0% ✓ More | 18.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.0% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lincoln's cost of living index is 92.0 vs Santa Clara's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Lincoln is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lincoln leads 12 of 23 categories. Lincoln wins 12 and Santa Clara wins 11. 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 Clara or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,400 vs $1,440,200 median home), income ($67,846 vs $165,352), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lincoln, NE and Santa Clara, CA are about 1,372 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.