Lancaster County vs Sarpy County
Lancaster County, Nebraska versus Sarpy 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 and Sarpy County score about the same overall (45 vs 46 of 100) — the differences are in the individual factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Lancaster County | Sarpy County |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $70k | $96k |
| Cost of Living | $45k | $53k |
| Home Value | $240k | $263k |
| Monthly Rent | $997 | $1k |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $77k | $50k |
| Property Tax Rate | 1.60% | 1.85% |
| Income Tax | 6.40% | 6.27% |
| Sales Tax | 6.97% | 6.97% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 14.17% | 13.63% |
| Unemployment | 3.2% | 2.6% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 25°F | 24°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 77°F | 77°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 31.1 in | 33.2 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 26.7 in | 30.0 in |
| Sunny Days | 262 days | 226 days |
| Summer Humidity | 65°F | 66°F |
| Comfortable Days | 61 days | 65 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 90.7 | 83.6 |
| Air Quality | 42 AQI | 37 AQI |
| School Quality | 48.5 | 67.3 |
| Violent Crime | 1917/100k | 940/100k |
| Property Crime | 2682/100k | 1047/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 322,063 | 191,272 |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 35.3 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.30 | 0.30 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 1.02 | 1.02 |
| Political Leaning | Even | R+12 |
| White (%) | 79.6% | 78.5% |
| Black (%) | 3.6% | 4.0% |
| Hispanic (%) | 7.7% | 10.5% |
| Asian (%) | 4.1% | 2.5% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 5.0% | 4.4% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 19 min | 21 min |
| Walkability | 12.9/20 | 7.9/20 |
| Airport Distance | 55 mi | 18 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 91.3% | 94.1% |
| Amenities Nearby | 20.24 | 3.50 |
| Park & Nature Access | Moderate | 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 Lancaster County or Sarpy County more affordable?
- Lancaster County has the lower cost of living: its index is $45k, compared with Lancaster County's $45k and Sarpy County's $53k. Median rent is $997 in Lancaster County versus $1k in Sarpy County.
- Is Lancaster County or Sarpy County safer?
- Sarpy County has the lower violent crime rate. Lancaster County reports 1917/100k and Sarpy County reports 940/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Lancaster County or Sarpy County?
- The median home value is $240k in Lancaster County and $263k in Sarpy County, so homes are more affordable in Lancaster County.