Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lincoln, NE
VS
Trenton, NJ
🏆 Lincoln leads 18 of 23 categories
Lincoln
Nebraska
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,846 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
290,531 ✓ Larger
Trenton
New Jersey
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$44,444
Violent Crime Index
270⚠ High
Population
90,055
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lincoln, NE
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.9 pts lower (3.3%)
66% less violent crime than Trenton
Households earn $23,402 more per year on average
More college-educated — 40.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $179/mo less ($998 vs $1,177)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Trenton, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $119k less ($111,200 vs $230,400)
Cons
Median income trails Lincoln by $23,402/yr
Violent crime (1025.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Lincoln
Higher unemployment (10.2% vs 3.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lincoln
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 92.0 vs 102.1 (100 = US avg)
Lincoln
Median Income
$23,402
$67,846 vs $44,444/yr
Lincoln
Violent Crime
66% lower
347.9 vs 1025.9 per 100k
Lincoln
Unemployment
6.9 pp lower
3.3% vs 10.2% unemployment
Trenton
Median Home Value
$119k less
$111,200 vs $230,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lincoln, NE | Trenton, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.0 ✓ Cheaper | 102.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $230,400 | $111,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $998 ✓ Lower | $1,177 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,846 ✓ Higher | $44,444 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 10.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 26.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% ✓ Higher | 5.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer | 206⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 270⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) ✓ Better | C (75) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.9% ✓ Higher | 15.6% |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% ✓ Higher | 76.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS | Trenton Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.6°F | 39.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 30.9" ✓ Drier | 47.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 26.0" ✓ Less | 26.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,531 ✓ Larger | 90,055 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 35.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% ✓ Higher | 38.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | 25.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% ✓ More | 12.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lincoln's cost of living index is 92.0 vs Trenton's 102.1 (US average = 100).
Lincoln is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lincoln leads 18 of 23 categories. Lincoln wins 18 and Trenton wins 5. 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 Trenton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,400 vs $111,200 median home), income ($67,846 vs $44,444), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lincoln, NE and Trenton, NJ are about 1,149 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.