Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lincoln, NE
VS
West Jordan, UT
🏆 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
Population
290,531 ✓ Larger
West Jordan
Utah
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.5
Median Household Income
$99,002 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
116,383
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lincoln, NE
Pros
Homes cost $182k less ($230,400 vs $412,100)
Rent averages $491/mo less ($998 vs $1,489)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (3.3%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 40.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.0)
Cons
Median income trails West Jordan by $31,156/yr
West Jordan, UT
Pros
Households earn $31,156 more per year on average
15% less violent crime than Lincoln
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $412,100
Higher rents — median is $1,489/mo
Higher unemployment (4.2% vs 3.3%)
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Lincoln
Key Differences at a Glance
Lincoln
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 92.0 vs 98.5 (100 = US avg)
Lincoln
Median Home Value
$182k less
$230,400 vs $412,100
Lincoln
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
3.3% vs 4.2% unemployment
West Jordan
Median Income
$31,156
$99,002 vs $67,846/yr
West Jordan
Violent Crime
15% lower
294.2 vs 347.9 per 100k
West Jordan
Summer Heat
4.1°F warmer
July avg high 93.5°F vs 89.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lincoln, NE | West Jordan, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.0 ✓ Cheaper | 98.5 |
| Median Home Value | $230,400 ✓ Lower | $412,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $998 ✓ Lower | $1,489⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,846 | $99,002 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 4.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 24.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% | 15.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 102⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 77 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.9% ✓ Higher | 27.8% |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% ✓ Higher | 91.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS | Jordan District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.6°F | 40.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F | 93.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 30.9" | 20.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 26.0" ✓ Less | 55.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,531 ✓ Larger | 116,383 |
| Median Age | 33.1 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% | 77.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | 28.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% ✓ More | 8.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lincoln's cost of living index is 92.0 vs West Jordan's 98.5 (US average = 100).
Lincoln is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lincoln leads 13 of 23 categories. Lincoln wins 13 and West Jordan 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 West Jordan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,400 vs $412,100 median home), income ($67,846 vs $99,002), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lincoln, NE and West Jordan, UT are about 802 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.