Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lincoln, NE
VS
Simi Valley, CA
🏆 Simi Valley 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
Simi Valley
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$112,144 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
34 ✓ Safer
Population
126,153
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lincoln, NE
Pros
Homes cost $474k less ($230,400 vs $704,200)
Rent averages $1404/mo less ($998 vs $2,402)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Simi Valley
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (3.3%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.0)
Cons
Median income trails Simi Valley by $44,298/yr
Simi Valley, CA
Pros
Households earn $44,298 more per year on average
63% less violent crime than Lincoln
Violent crime is well below the national average (129.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 36°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $704,200
Higher rents — median is $2,402/mo
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Lincoln
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lincoln
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 92.0 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Lincoln
Median Home Value
$474k less
$230,400 vs $704,200
Lincoln
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
3.3% vs 4.4% unemployment
Simi Valley
Median Income
$44,298
$112,144 vs $67,846/yr
Simi Valley
Violent Crime
63% lower
129.1 vs 347.9 per 100k
Simi Valley
Summer Heat
5.7°F warmer
July avg high 95.1°F vs 89.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lincoln, NE | Simi Valley, 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 | $704,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $998 ✓ Lower | $2,402⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,846 | $112,144 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 4.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 28.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% | 14.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 102⚠ High | 38 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High | 44 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.9% ✓ Higher | 36.0% |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% ✓ Higher | 91.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS | Simi Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.6°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F | 95.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 30.9" | 17.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 26.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,531 ✓ Larger | 126,153 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 41.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% | 72.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.0% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 16.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lincoln's cost of living index is 92.0 vs Simi Valley's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Lincoln is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Simi Valley leads 12 of 23 categories. Lincoln wins 11 and Simi Valley 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 Simi Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,400 vs $704,200 median home), income ($67,846 vs $112,144), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lincoln, NE and Simi Valley, CA are about 1,287 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.