Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lincoln, NE
VS
Toledo, OH
🏆 Lincoln leads 17 of 23 categories
Lincoln
Nebraska
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.0
Median Household Income
$67,846 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
290,531 ✓ Larger
Toledo
Ohio
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$45,405
Violent Crime Index
274⚠ High
Population
269,962
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lincoln, NE
Pros
67% less violent crime than Toledo
Households earn $22,441 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.9 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)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Toledo, OH
Pros
Homes cost $132k less ($98,800 vs $230,400)
Rent averages $144/mo less ($854 vs $998)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.4)
Cons
Median income trails Lincoln by $22,441/yr
Violent crime (1041.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2732.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 3.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lincoln
Median Income
$22,441
$67,846 vs $45,405/yr
Lincoln
Violent Crime
67% lower
347.9 vs 1041.1 per 100k
Lincoln
Unemployment
4.9 pp lower
3.3% vs 8.2% unemployment
Lincoln
Summer Heat
4.8°F warmer
July avg high 89.4°F vs 84.6°F
Toledo
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 90.4 vs 92.0 (100 = US avg)
Toledo
Median Home Value
$132k less
$98,800 vs $230,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lincoln, NE | Toledo, OH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.0 | 90.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $230,400 | $98,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $998 | $854 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,846 ✓ Higher | $45,405 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 8.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 19.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% ✓ Higher | 4.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer | 216⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 274⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.9% ✓ Higher | 20.2% |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% ✓ Higher | 88.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS | Toledo City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.6°F ✓ Warmer | 33.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer | 84.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 30.9" ✓ Drier | 37.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 26.0" ✓ Less | 37.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,531 ✓ Larger | 269,962 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% ✓ Higher | 52.4% |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lincoln's cost of living index is 92.0 vs Toledo's 90.4 (US average = 100).
Toledo is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lincoln leads 17 of 23 categories. Lincoln wins 17 and Toledo 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 Toledo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,400 vs $98,800 median home), income ($67,846 vs $45,405), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lincoln, NE and Toledo, OH are about 682 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.