Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lincoln, NE
VS
Suffolk, VA
🏆 Lincoln leads 14 of 23 categories
Lincoln
Nebraska
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,846
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
290,531 ✓ Larger
Suffolk
Virginia
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$87,758 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
98
Population
94,856
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lincoln, NE
Pros
Rent averages $378/mo less ($998 vs $1,376)
Homes cost $84k less ($230,400 vs $314,400)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (3.3%)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 40.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.0)
Cons
Median income trails Suffolk by $19,912/yr
Suffolk, VA
Pros
Households earn $19,912 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 36°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,376/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $314,400
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 3.3%)
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Lincoln
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 92.0 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Lincoln
Violent Crime
6% lower
347.9 vs 371.0 per 100k
Lincoln
Median Home Value
$84k less
$230,400 vs $314,400
Lincoln
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
3.3% vs 6.3% unemployment
Suffolk
Median Income
$19,912
$87,758 vs $67,846/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lincoln, NE | Suffolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.0 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $230,400 ✓ Lower | $314,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $998 ✓ Lower | $1,376⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,846 | $87,758 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% ✓ Higher | 7.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 102⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 98 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.9% ✓ Higher | 32.1% |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% ✓ Higher | 91.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS | Suffolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.6°F | 49.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer | 86.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 30.9" ✓ Drier | 51.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 26.0" | 5.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,531 ✓ Larger | 94,856 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 38.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% | 70.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lincoln's cost of living index is 92.0 vs Suffolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Lincoln is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lincoln leads 14 of 23 categories. Lincoln wins 14 and Suffolk wins 9. 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 Suffolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,400 vs $314,400 median home), income ($67,846 vs $87,758), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lincoln, NE and Suffolk, VA are about 1,114 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.