Lincoln vs Norfolk
Lincoln, Nebraska versus Norfolk, Nebraska: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Norfolk edges out Lincoln on overall objective livability (49 vs 45 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Lincoln | Norfolk |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $68k | $57k |
| Cost of Living | $45k | $43k |
| Home Value | $230k | $192k |
| Monthly Rent | $998 | $801 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $2k | $1k |
| Property Tax Rate | 1.62% | 1.42% |
| Income Tax | 6.40% | 6.40% |
| Sales Tax | 6.97% | 6.97% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 14.19% | 13.46% |
| Unemployment | 3.3% | 2.6% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 25°F | 22°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 77°F | 75°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 30.9 in | 27.0 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 26.0 in | 29.9 in |
| Sunny Days | 262 days | 254 days |
| Summer Humidity | 65°F | 64°F |
| Comfortable Days | 61 days | 69 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 39.7 | 70.6 |
| Air Quality | 46 AQI | — |
| School Quality | 49.7 | 43.9 |
| Violent Crime | 2076/100k | 615/100k |
| Property Crime | 2851/100k | 810/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 290,531 | 25,883 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 36.8 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.32 | 0.28 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 1.02 | 0.98 |
| Political Leaning | Even | R+55 |
| White (%) | 78.0% | 79.5% |
| Black (%) | 4.0% | 1.0% |
| Hispanic (%) | 8.3% | 14.3% |
| Asian (%) | 4.5% | 1.0% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 5.2% | 4.3% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 19 min | 13 min |
| Walkability | 14.8/20 | 9.4/20 |
| Airport Distance | 54 mi | 93 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 91.3% | 84.7% |
| Amenities Nearby | 23.75 | 11.59 |
| Park & Nature Access | Limited | Moderate |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: 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 Lincoln or Norfolk more affordable?
- Norfolk has the lower cost of living: its index is $43k, compared with Lincoln's $45k and Norfolk's $43k. Median rent is $998 in Lincoln versus $801 in Norfolk.
- Is Lincoln or Norfolk safer?
- Norfolk has the lower violent crime rate. Lincoln reports 2076/100k and Norfolk reports 615/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Lincoln or Norfolk?
- The median home value is $230k in Lincoln and $192k in Norfolk, so homes are more affordable in Norfolk.