Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lincoln, NE
VS
Stockton, CA
🏆 Lincoln leads 15 of 23 categories
Lincoln
Nebraska
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,846
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
290,531
Stockton
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,612 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
320,030 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lincoln, NE
Pros
Homes cost $152k less ($230,400 vs $382,000)
70% less violent crime than Stockton
Rent averages $419/mo less ($998 vs $1,417)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.4 pts lower (3.3%)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 40.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Stockton by $3,766/yr
Stockton, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 36°F
Households earn $3,766 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $382,000
Higher rents — median is $1,417/mo
Violent crime (1145.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Lincoln
Key Differences at a Glance
Lincoln
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 92.0 vs 107.4 (100 = US avg)
Lincoln
Violent Crime
70% lower
347.9 vs 1145.8 per 100k
Lincoln
Median Home Value
$152k less
$230,400 vs $382,000
Lincoln
Unemployment
4.4 pp lower
3.3% vs 7.7% unemployment
Stockton
Median Income
$3,766
$71,612 vs $67,846/yr
Stockton
Summer Heat
5.3°F warmer
July avg high 94.7°F vs 89.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lincoln, NE | Stockton, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.0 ✓ Cheaper | 107.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $230,400 ✓ Lower | $382,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $998 ✓ Lower | $1,417⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,846 | $71,612 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 32.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer | 231⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 302⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer | 126⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) ✓ Better | C- (74) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.9% ✓ Higher | 18.3% |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% ✓ Higher | 77.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS | Stockton Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.6°F | 58.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F | 94.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 30.9" | 17.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 26.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,531 | 320,030 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 33.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% ✓ Higher | 51.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | 27.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lincoln's cost of living index is 92.0 vs Stockton's 107.4 (US average = 100).
Lincoln is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lincoln leads 15 of 23 categories. Lincoln wins 15 and Stockton wins 8. 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 Stockton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,400 vs $382,000 median home), income ($67,846 vs $71,612), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lincoln, NE and Stockton, CA are about 1,325 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.