Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lincoln, NE
VS
Torrance, CA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Lincoln
Nebraska
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,846
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
290,531 ✓ Larger
Torrance
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,554 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
82 ✓ Safer
Population
145,454
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lincoln, NE
Pros
Homes cost $732k less ($230,400 vs $962,300)
Rent averages $1134/mo less ($998 vs $2,132)
24% cheaper overall cost of living than Torrance
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (3.3%)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.0)
Cons
Median income trails Torrance by $41,708/yr
Torrance, CA
Pros
Households earn $41,708 more per year on average
11% less violent crime than Lincoln
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 36°F
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 76°F vs 89°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $962,300
Higher rents — median is $2,132/mo
Cost of living runs 24% higher than Lincoln
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lincoln
Cost of Living
24% cheaper
COL index 92.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Lincoln
Median Home Value
$732k less
$230,400 vs $962,300
Lincoln
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
3.3% vs 5.3% unemployment
Lincoln
Summer Heat
13.8°F warmer
July avg high 89.4°F vs 75.6°F
Torrance
Median Income
$41,708
$109,554 vs $67,846/yr
Torrance
Violent Crime
11% lower
311.2 vs 347.9 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lincoln, NE | Torrance, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.0 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $230,400 ✓ Lower | $962,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $998 ✓ Lower | $2,132⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,846 | $109,554 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 27.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% | 15.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 102⚠ High | 102⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.9% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% | 95.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS | Torrance Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.6°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer | 75.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 30.9" | 13.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 26.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,531 ✓ Larger | 145,454 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% ✓ Higher | 54.8% |
| Under 18 | 22.0% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lincoln's cost of living index is 92.0 vs Torrance's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Lincoln is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Lincoln wins 11 and Torrance wins 11. 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 Torrance or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,400 vs $962,300 median home), income ($67,846 vs $109,554), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lincoln, NE and Torrance, CA are about 1,281 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.