Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lincoln, NE
VS
Springfield, IL
🏆 Springfield leads 12 of 23 categories
Lincoln
Nebraska
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.0
Median Household Income
$67,846 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
290,531 ✓ Larger
Springfield
Illinois
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,419
Violent Crime Index
237⚠ High
Population
114,214
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lincoln, NE
Pros
61% less violent crime than Springfield
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (3.3%)
More college-educated — 40.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.0)
Households earn $5,427 more per year on average
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Springfield, IL
Pros
Homes cost $83k less ($147,700 vs $230,400)
Rent averages $85/mo less ($913 vs $998)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.5)
Cons
Violent crime (901.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4911.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 3.3%)
Median income trails Lincoln by $5,427/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Lincoln
Median Income
$5,427
$67,846 vs $62,419/yr
Lincoln
Violent Crime
61% lower
347.9 vs 901.2 per 100k
Lincoln
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
3.3% vs 6.6% unemployment
Lincoln
Summer Heat
3.9°F warmer
July avg high 89.4°F vs 85.5°F
Springfield
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 90.5 vs 92.0 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$83k less
$147,700 vs $230,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lincoln, NE | Springfield, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.0 | 90.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $230,400 | $147,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $998 | $913 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,846 ✓ Higher | $62,419 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% | 10.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 237⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer | 234⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) | A- (111) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.9% ✓ Higher | 34.7% |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% ✓ Higher | 92.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS | Springfield SD 186 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.6°F | 35.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 30.9" ✓ Drier | 40.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 26.0" | 21.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,531 ✓ Larger | 114,214 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 40.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.0% ✓ More | 21.6% |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lincoln's cost of living index is 92.0 vs Springfield's 90.5 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Springfield leads 12 of 23 categories. Lincoln wins 11 and Springfield 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 Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,400 vs $147,700 median home), income ($67,846 vs $62,419), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lincoln, NE and Springfield, IL are about 377 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.