Residential comparison · 13 facts
Lincoln, NE vs Omaha, NE
Compare the housing, tax, cost, income, safety, school, and climate facts that are available for both places. The table shows the numbers without declaring one city universally better.
A household earning $85,000 in Lincoln needs about $88,000 in Omaha to keep the same lifestyle.
Coming from Omaha, $85,000 of lifestyle costs about $82,000 in Lincoln.
A few differences
- Lincoln is lower on property tax rate (1.6% vs 2%).
- Lincoln is higher on median household income ($71,867 vs $67,000).
- Lincoln is lower on unemployment rate (2.5% vs 3%).
Lincoln vs Omaha · facet by facet
| Facet | Lincoln, NE | Omaha, NE |
|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $264,000 | $280,000 |
| 2-bedroom rent | $1,102/mo | $1,350/mo |
| Property tax rate | 1.6% | 2% |
| State & local income tax | 3.2% | 3.2% |
| Sales tax | 7% | 7% |
| Cost of living index | 84 | 90 |
| Groceries index | 95 | 95 |
| Utilities | $150/mo | $160/mo |
| Median household income | $71,867 | $67,000 |
| Unemployment rate | 2.5% | 3% |
| Crime index | 42/100 | 45/100 |
| School rating | 6.5/10 | 6.5/10 |
| Sunny days / year | 215 days | 214 days |
Data: Census ACS 2024 · BLS · Tax Foundation 2024 brackets · HUD/Zillow · NOAA 1991–2020 · FEMA NRI · Values are shown as reported; no universal winner is implied.
Full profiles: Lincoln, NE · Omaha, NE
Questions & answers
- Is Lincoln cheaper than Omaha?
- Lincoln has the lower day-to-day cost index (84 vs 90 against a national 100). The other differences are shown facet by facet in the table.
- What household income in Omaha equals $85,000 in Lincoln?
- A household earning $85,000 in Lincoln needs about $88,000 in Omaha to keep the same lifestyle; coming the other way, $85,000 of Omaha lifestyle costs about $82,000 in Lincoln.