City Comparison
Papillion vs Lincoln
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Papillion scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Papillion
Lincoln
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Papillion is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
78% lower than in Lincoln.
Housing costs are a major driver: Papillion's average rent is
32% higher than Lincoln's.
| Metric | Papillion | Lincoln | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,800 | $1,363 | +32% |
| Groceries | $450 | $400 | +13% |
| Utilities | $180 | $260 | -31% |
| Transport | $120 | $1,200 | -90% |
| Healthcare | $250 | $9,572 | -97% |
| Monthly Total | $2,800 | $12,795 | -78% |
| Cost Index | 104 | 94 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Lincoln offers 10% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Lincoln delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Papillion is estimated at
$55,000 vs $52,000 in Lincoln.
| Metric | Papillion | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $65,000 | $71,867 |
| Salary Needed | $55,000 | $52,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 62,500 idx | 76,454 idx |
| Household Income | $111,679 | $71,867 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Papillion runs warmer on average — a 53.3°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Papillion comes out ahead with 271 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Papillion sees 21.9 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Papillion | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 53.30°F | °F |
| Summer High | 84.40°F | °F |
| Winter Low | 17.40°F | °F |
| Rainfall | 32.40 in | in |
| Snowfall | 21.90 in | in |
| Sunny Days | 271 | |
| Humidity | 65.00% | 65.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Lincoln has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
2,500 minutes (42 hours) per year compared to Papillion.
Papillion scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Papillion leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Papillion | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 23 min | 18 min |
| Transit Score | 55.0/100 | 40.0/100 |
| Walkability | 60.0/100 | 50.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 45.00 | 45.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Lincoln is the larger city
— approximately 0.1x the population of Papillion.
From a growth perspective, Papillion is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Papillion has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Papillion | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 25,244 | 303,375 |
| Pop. Growth | 4.44% | 0.61% |
| Median Age | 41.1 | 33.4 |
| Unemployment | 2.20% | 2.60% |
| GDP | — | $150.9B |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Papillion
Advantages
Strong median household income of $111,679, significantly above the national average.
Low violent crime rate, 94% below the national average.
High homeownership rate of 73.9%.
Significant employment growth of 4.44% from 2023 to 2024.
Highly-rated public schools within the Papillion-La Vista Public School District.
Drawbacks
Car-dependent lifestyle with limited public transportation options.
Housing costs are 17% higher than the national average.
Commute times can be challenging, especially for north-south travel.
Property taxes can be higher than expected.
Limited affordable resale inventory in some price points.
Lincoln
Advantages
Lincoln's cost of living is approximately 6% lower than the national average, driven by more affordable housing and utilities.
The city boasts a low unemployment rate of 2.6% as of May 2026, significantly lower than the national average.
Lincoln has a shorter average commute time of 19.5 minutes, saving residents time compared to the national average.
The city is recognized for its exceptional public safety, with Part 1 crime reaching a 25-year low in 2025.
Over 40% of adults in Lincoln have a bachelor's degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.
Drawbacks
While overall cost of living is lower, healthcare costs in Lincoln are about 3% higher than the U.S. average.
Lincoln's employment and wage growth rates have been nearly identical to Omaha's, which have been slower than comparable cities.
Public transportation options, while affordable, have a limited reach around the city.
The state of Nebraska, including Lincoln, has experienced low population and labor force growth due to people relocating to other states.
Some goods and services in Lincoln are approximately 4% pricier than the national average.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Papillion
#24Nebraska, USA
72.8 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,800
Avg Salary
$65,000
Cost Index
104
Commute
23 min
Transit Score
55.0/100
Walkability
60.0/100
Sunny Days
271/yr
Avg Temp
53.30°F
Pop. Growth
4.44%
Unemployment
2.20%
Livability
74
Business
68
Lincoln
#173Nebraska, USA
64.5 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,363
Avg Salary
$71,867
Cost Index
94
Commute
18 min
Transit Score
40.0/100
Walkability
50.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.61%
Unemployment
2.60%
Livability
74
Business
68
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