Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lincoln, NE
VS
St. George, UT
🏆 St. George leads 15 of 22 categories
Lincoln
Nebraska
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,846
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
290,531 ✓ Larger
St. George
Utah
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1
Median Household Income
$69,333 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
55 ✓ Safer
Population
96,174
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lincoln, NE
Pros
Homes cost $185k less ($230,400 vs $415,200)
Rent averages $337/mo less ($998 vs $1,335)
More college-educated — 40.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 102°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.0)
Smaller class sizes — 13.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
St. George, UT
Pros
40% less violent crime than Lincoln
Violent crime is well below the national average (210.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 36°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $415,200
Higher rents — median is $1,335/mo
Hot summers — July highs average 102°F
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Lincoln
Key Differences at a Glance
Lincoln
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 92.0 vs 96.1 (100 = US avg)
Lincoln
Median Home Value
$185k less
$230,400 vs $415,200
St. George
Median Income
$1,487
$69,333 vs $67,846/yr
St. George
Violent Crime
40% lower
210.0 vs 347.9 per 100k
St. George
Summer Heat
12.5°F warmer
July avg high 101.9°F vs 89.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lincoln, NE | St. George, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.0 ✓ Cheaper | 96.1 |
| Median Home Value | $230,400 ✓ Lower | $415,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $998 ✓ Lower | $1,335⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,846 | $69,333 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% | 3.3% |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min | 16.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 102⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 55 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.9% ✓ Higher | 32.6% |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% | 94.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS | Washington District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.6°F | 54.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F | 101.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 30.9" | 9.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 26.0" | 1.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,531 ✓ Larger | 96,174 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% | 67.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | 25.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lincoln's cost of living index is 92.0 vs St. George's 96.1 (US average = 100).
Lincoln is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, St. George leads 15 of 22 categories. Lincoln wins 7 and St. George wins 15. 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 St. George or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,400 vs $415,200 median home), income ($67,846 vs $69,333), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lincoln, NE and St. George, UT are about 942 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.