Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lincoln, NE
VS
Virginia Beach, VA
🏆 Virginia Beach leads 13 of 22 categories
Lincoln
Nebraska
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,846
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
290,531
Virginia Beach
Virginia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$87,544 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
24 ✓ Safer
Population
457,900 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lincoln, NE
Pros
Rent averages $570/mo less ($998 vs $1,568)
Homes cost $113k less ($230,400 vs $343,700)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (3.3%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.0)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Virginia Beach
Cons
Median income trails Virginia Beach by $19,698/yr
Virginia Beach, VA
Pros
73% less violent crime than Lincoln
Households earn $19,698 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (92.3 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 50°F vs 36°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,568/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $343,700
Higher unemployment (4.3% vs 3.3%)
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Lincoln
Key Differences at a Glance
Lincoln
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 92.0 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Lincoln
Median Home Value
$113k less
$230,400 vs $343,700
Lincoln
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
3.3% vs 4.3% unemployment
Virginia Beach
Median Income
$19,698
$87,544 vs $67,846/yr
Virginia Beach
Violent Crime
73% lower
92.3 vs 347.9 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lincoln, NE | Virginia Beach, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.0 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $230,400 ✓ Lower | $343,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $998 ✓ Lower | $1,568⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,846 | $87,544 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 4.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 23.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% | 10.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 102⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 24 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.9% ✓ Higher | 39.8% |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% | 94.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS | Virginia Beach City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.6°F | 50.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer | 87.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 30.9" ✓ Drier | 54.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 26.0" | 3.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,531 | 457,900 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% | 64.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lincoln's cost of living index is 92.0 vs Virginia Beach's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Lincoln is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Virginia Beach leads 13 of 22 categories. Lincoln wins 9 and Virginia Beach wins 13. 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 Virginia Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,400 vs $343,700 median home), income ($67,846 vs $87,544), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lincoln, NE and Virginia Beach, VA are about 1,143 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.