Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lincoln, NE
VS
St. Paul, MN
🏆 Lincoln leads 16 of 22 categories
Lincoln
Nebraska
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,846
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
290,531
St. Paul
Minnesota
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,919 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
308,806 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lincoln, NE
Pros
44% less violent crime than St. Paul
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (3.3%)
Rent averages $176/mo less ($998 vs $1,174)
Homes cost $35k less ($230,400 vs $264,900)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than St. Paul
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
St. Paul, MN
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 89°F
Cons
Violent crime (617.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Lincoln
Property crime (2834.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 3.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lincoln
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 92.0 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Lincoln
Violent Crime
44% lower
347.9 vs 617.7 per 100k
Lincoln
Median Home Value
$35k less
$230,400 vs $264,900
Lincoln
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
3.3% vs 5.0% unemployment
Lincoln
Summer Heat
6.8°F warmer
July avg high 89.4°F vs 82.6°F
St. Paul
Median Income
$2,073
$69,919 vs $67,846/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lincoln, NE | St. Paul, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.0 ✓ Cheaper | 104.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $230,400 ✓ Lower | $264,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $998 ✓ Lower | $1,174 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,846 | $69,919 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 23.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% | 15.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 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 | 163⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.9% | 42.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% ✓ Higher | 88.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS | Saint Paul Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.6°F ✓ Warmer | 23.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer | 82.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 30.9" | 29.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 26.0" ✓ Less | 40.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,531 | 308,806 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% ✓ Higher | 53.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% ✓ More | 11.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lincoln's cost of living index is 92.0 vs St. Paul's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Lincoln is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Lincoln leads 16 of 22 categories. Lincoln wins 16 and St. Paul 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 St. Paul or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,400 vs $264,900 median home), income ($67,846 vs $69,919), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lincoln, NE and St. Paul, MN are about 338 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.