Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lincoln, NE
VS
Santa Maria, CA
🏆 Lincoln leads 17 of 23 categories
Lincoln
Nebraska
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,846
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
290,531 ✓ Larger
Santa Maria
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,237 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High
Population
109,543
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lincoln, NE
Pros
Homes cost $208k less ($230,400 vs $438,100)
Rent averages $770/mo less ($998 vs $1,768)
47% less violent crime than Santa Maria
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (3.3%)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Maria
More college-educated — 40.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Santa Maria by $13,391/yr
Santa Maria, CA
Pros
Households earn $13,391 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 36°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 89°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $438,100
Higher rents — median is $1,768/mo
Violent crime (660.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Lincoln
Key Differences at a Glance
Lincoln
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 92.0 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Lincoln
Violent Crime
47% lower
347.9 vs 660.6 per 100k
Lincoln
Median Home Value
$208k less
$230,400 vs $438,100
Lincoln
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
3.3% vs 6.3% unemployment
Lincoln
Summer Heat
16.1°F warmer
July avg high 89.4°F vs 73.3°F
Santa Maria
Median Income
$13,391
$81,237 vs $67,846/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lincoln, NE | Santa Maria, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.0 ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $230,400 ✓ Lower | $438,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $998 ✓ Lower | $1,768⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,846 | $81,237 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 22.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 174⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High | 90 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) ✓ Better | C- (62) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.9% ✓ Higher | 14.5% |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% ✓ Higher | 63.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS | Santa Maria-Bonita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.6°F | 64.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer | 73.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 30.9" | 13.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 26.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,531 ✓ Larger | 109,543 |
| Median Age | 33.1 ✓ Older | 29.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% ✓ Higher | 51.2% |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | 31.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lincoln's cost of living index is 92.0 vs Santa Maria's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Lincoln is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lincoln leads 17 of 23 categories. Lincoln wins 17 and Santa Maria wins 6. 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 Maria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,400 vs $438,100 median home), income ($67,846 vs $81,237), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lincoln, NE and Santa Maria, CA are about 1,353 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.