Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lincoln, NE
VS
South Gate, CA
🏆 Lincoln leads 18 of 23 categories
Lincoln
Nebraska
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,846 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
290,531 ✓ Larger
South Gate
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,188
Violent Crime Index
138⚠ High
Population
92,381
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lincoln, NE
Pros
Homes cost $349k less ($230,400 vs $578,900)
Rent averages $402/mo less ($998 vs $1,400)
34% less violent crime than South Gate
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.6 pts lower (3.3%)
24% cheaper overall cost of living than South Gate
More college-educated — 40.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
South Gate, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 36°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 89°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $578,900
Higher rents — median is $1,400/mo
Violent crime (525.6/100k) 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
Median Income
$658
$67,846 vs $67,188/yr
Lincoln
Violent Crime
34% lower
347.9 vs 525.6 per 100k
Lincoln
Median Home Value
$349k less
$230,400 vs $578,900
Lincoln
Unemployment
4.6 pp lower
3.3% vs 7.9% unemployment
Lincoln
Summer Heat
7.4°F warmer
July avg high 89.4°F vs 82.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lincoln, NE | South Gate, 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 | $578,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $998 ✓ Lower | $1,400⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,846 ✓ Higher | $67,188 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 7.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 32.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.9% ✓ Higher | 11.5% |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% ✓ Higher | 58.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS | Westbrook Academy District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.6°F | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer | 82.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 30.9" | 14.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 26.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,531 ✓ Larger | 92,381 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 33.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lincoln's cost of living index is 92.0 vs South Gate's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Lincoln is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lincoln leads 18 of 23 categories. Lincoln wins 18 and South Gate wins 5. 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 South Gate or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,400 vs $578,900 median home), income ($67,846 vs $67,188), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lincoln, NE and South Gate, CA are about 1,269 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.