Douglas County vs Lancaster County
Douglas County, Nebraska versus Lancaster County, Nebraska: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US counties.
Lancaster County edges out Douglas County on overall objective livability (45 vs 41 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Douglas County | Lancaster County |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $76k | $70k |
| Cost of Living | $49k | $45k |
| Home Value | $227k | $240k |
| Monthly Rent | $1k | $997 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $2k | $2k |
| Property Tax Rate | 1.76% | 1.60% |
| Income Tax | 6.40% | 6.40% |
| Sales Tax | 6.97% | 6.97% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 13.95% | 14.17% |
| Unemployment | 3.8% | 3.2% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 24°F | 25°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 77°F | 77°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.1 in | 31.1 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.4 in | 26.7 in |
| Sunny Days | 228 days | 262 days |
| Summer Humidity | 66°F | 65°F |
| Comfortable Days | 66 days | 61 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 95.9 | 90.7 |
| Air Quality | 45 AQI | 42 AQI |
| School Quality | 54.8 | 48.5 |
| Violent Crime | 1746/100k | 1917/100k |
| Property Crime | 3007/100k | 2682/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 582,638 | 322,063 |
| Median Age | 35.3 | 34.1 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.44 | 0.30 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.99 | 1.02 |
| Political Leaning | D+12 | Even |
| White (%) | 67.7% | 79.6% |
| Black (%) | 10.6% | 3.6% |
| Hispanic (%) | 13.4% | 7.7% |
| Asian (%) | 4.1% | 4.1% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 4.3% | 5.0% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 20 min | 19 min |
| Walkability | 11.4/20 | 12.9/20 |
| Airport Distance | 15 mi | 55 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 90.3% | 91.3% |
| Amenities Nearby | 5.08 | 20.24 |
| Park & Nature Access | Good | Moderate |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US counties: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Douglas County or Lancaster County more affordable?
- Lancaster County has the lower cost of living: its index is $45k, compared with Douglas County's $49k and Lancaster County's $45k. Median rent is $1k in Douglas County versus $997 in Lancaster County.
- Is Douglas County or Lancaster County safer?
- Douglas County has the lower violent crime rate. Douglas County reports 1746/100k and Lancaster County reports 1917/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Douglas County or Lancaster County?
- The median home value is $227k in Douglas County and $240k in Lancaster County, so homes are more affordable in Douglas County.