Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lincoln, NE
VS
Westminster, CO
🏆 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
Westminster
Colorado
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$90,651 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
80 ✓ Safer
Population
115,502
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lincoln, NE
Pros
Homes cost $237k less ($230,400 vs $467,200)
Rent averages $734/mo less ($998 vs $1,732)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Westminster
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (3.3%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.0)
Cons
Median income trails Westminster by $22,805/yr
Westminster, CO
Pros
Households earn $22,805 more per year on average
13% less violent crime than Lincoln
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 36°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $467,200
Higher rents — median is $1,732/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Lincoln
Property crime (3540.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Lincoln
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 92.0 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Lincoln
Median Home Value
$237k less
$230,400 vs $467,200
Lincoln
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
3.3% vs 4.1% unemployment
Westminster
Median Income
$22,805
$90,651 vs $67,846/yr
Westminster
Violent Crime
13% lower
303.6 vs 347.9 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lincoln, NE | Westminster, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.0 ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $230,400 ✓ Lower | $467,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $998 ✓ Lower | $1,732⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,846 | $90,651 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 4.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 26.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% | 15.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 80 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.9% | 42.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% ✓ Higher | 92.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS | Westminster Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.6°F | 48.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 30.9" | 17.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 26.0" ✓ Less | 54.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,531 ✓ Larger | 115,502 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% | 63.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.0% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 14.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lincoln's cost of living index is 92.0 vs Westminster's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Lincoln is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lincoln leads 13 of 23 categories. Lincoln wins 13 and Westminster 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 Westminster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,400 vs $467,200 median home), income ($67,846 vs $90,651), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lincoln, NE and Westminster, CO are about 446 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.