Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lincoln, NE
VS
Washington, DC
🏆 Lincoln leads 13 of 23 categories
Lincoln
Nebraska
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,846
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
290,531
Washington
District of Columbia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$101,722 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
244⚠ High
Population
670,587 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lincoln, NE
Pros
Homes cost $475k less ($230,400 vs $705,000)
Rent averages $819/mo less ($998 vs $1,817)
62% less violent crime than Washington
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.8 pts lower (3.3%)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Washington
Cons
Median income trails Washington by $33,876/yr
Washington, DC
Pros
Households earn $33,876 more per year on average
More college-educated — 62.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 36°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $705,000
Higher rents — median is $1,817/mo
Violent crime (925.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Lincoln
Key Differences at a Glance
Lincoln
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 92.0 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Lincoln
Violent Crime
62% lower
347.9 vs 925.9 per 100k
Lincoln
Median Home Value
$475k less
$230,400 vs $705,000
Lincoln
Unemployment
3.8 pp lower
3.3% vs 7.1% unemployment
Washington
Median Income
$33,876
$101,722 vs $67,846/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lincoln, NE | Washington, DC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.0 ✓ Cheaper | 108.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $230,400 ✓ Lower | $705,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $998 ✓ Lower | $1,817⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,846 | $101,722 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 7.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% | 25.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer | 215⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 244⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) | A (119) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.9% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% ✓ Higher | 92.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS | District of Columbia Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.6°F | 44.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F | 89.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 30.9" ✓ Drier | 45.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 26.0" | 9.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,531 | 670,587 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 34.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% ✓ Higher | 41.4% |
| Under 18 | 22.0% ✓ More | 18.5% |
| Over 65 | 14.0% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lincoln's cost of living index is 92.0 vs Washington's 108.6 (US average = 100).
Lincoln is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lincoln leads 13 of 23 categories. Lincoln wins 13 and Washington wins 10. 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 Washington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,400 vs $705,000 median home), income ($67,846 vs $101,722), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lincoln, NE and Washington, DC are about 1,049 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.