Bellevue NE vs Lincoln NE — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Bellevue, NE

Nebraska · Population: N/A

Median HH IncomeN/A
Median Home Price$300,031
UnemploymentN/A
Bachelor's+N/A

Lincoln, NE

Nebraska · Population: 291,932

Median HH Income$69,991
Median Home Price$293,233
Unemployment3.3%
Bachelor's+40.9%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population

Bellevue

N/A

Lincoln

291,932

Pop. Density / sq mi

Lower = more space

Bellevue

N/A

Lincoln

N/A

Median Age

Bellevue

N/A

Lincoln

33.4

Foreign Born

Bellevue

N/A

Lincoln

9.2%

White

Bellevue

N/A

Lincoln

80.9%

Black

Bellevue

N/A

Lincoln

4.2%

Asian

Bellevue

N/A

Lincoln

4.5%

Hispanic

Bellevue

N/A

Lincoln

8.8%

Spanish at Home

Bellevue

N/A

Lincoln

N/A

Metric	Bellevue, NE	Lincoln, NE	Better
Population	N/A	291,932	-
Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space	N/A	N/A	-
Median Age	N/A	33.4	-
Foreign Born	N/A	9.2%	-
White	N/A	80.9%	-
Black	N/A	4.2%	-
Asian	N/A	4.5%	-
Hispanic	N/A	8.8%	-
Spanish at Home	N/A	N/A	-

Economy

Median HH Income

Bellevue

N/A

Lincoln

$69,991

Per Capita Income

Bellevue

N/A

Lincoln

$39,187

Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)

BEA MSA-level

Bellevue

$66,354

Lincoln

$66,354

Tie

Unemployment Rate

Bellevue

N/A

Lincoln

3.3%

Poverty Rate

Bellevue

N/A

Lincoln

12.6%

Bachelor's Degree+

Bellevue

N/A

Lincoln

40.9%

Metric	Bellevue, NE	Lincoln, NE	Better
Median HH Income	N/A	$69,991	-
Per Capita Income	N/A	$39,187	-
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level	$66,354	$66,354	Tie
Unemployment Rate	N/A	3.3%	-
Poverty Rate	N/A	12.6%	-
Bachelor's Degree+	N/A	40.9%	-

Housing

Median Home Value

Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS

Bellevue

$300,031

Lincoln

$293,233

Lincoln +

Homeownership Rate

Bellevue

N/A

Lincoln

55.8%

Metric	Bellevue, NE	Lincoln, NE	Better
Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS	$300,031	$293,233	Lincoln +
Homeownership Rate	N/A	55.8%	-

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Bellevue

294

Lincoln

294

Tie

Property Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Bellevue

1960

Lincoln

1960

Tie

Metric	Bellevue, NE	Lincoln, NE	Better
Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	294	294	Tie
Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	1960	1960	Tie

Health

Obesity Rate

CDC PLACES

Bellevue

37.4%

Lincoln

35.1%

Lincoln +

Diabetes Rate

CDC PLACES

Bellevue

10.9%

Lincoln

9.5%

Lincoln +

Poor Mental Health

CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month

Bellevue

14.3%

Bellevue +

Lincoln

15.2%

No Health Insurance

CDC PLACES

Bellevue

9.9%

Lincoln

9.6%

Lincoln +

Binge Drinking

CDC PLACES

Bellevue

17.1%

Bellevue +

Lincoln

20.6%

Current Smokers

CDC PLACES

Bellevue

12.6%

Lincoln

12.5%

Lincoln +

Metric	Bellevue, NE	Lincoln, NE	Better
Obesity RateCDC PLACES	37.4%	35.1%	Lincoln +
Diabetes RateCDC PLACES	10.9%	9.5%	Lincoln +
Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month	14.3%	15.2%	Bellevue +
No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES	9.9%	9.6%	Lincoln +
Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES	17.1%	20.6%	Bellevue +
Current SmokersCDC PLACES	12.6%	12.5%	Lincoln +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Bellevue

N/A

Lincoln

51.6°F

Annual Precipitation

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Bellevue

N/A

Lincoln

29.0 in

Metric	Bellevue, NE	Lincoln, NE	Better
Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal	N/A	51.6°F	-
Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal	N/A	29.0 in	-

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg

EPA AQS (state-level est.)

Bellevue

7.6 µg/m³

Lincoln

7.6 µg/m³

Tie

Good Air Days

AQI ≤ 50

Bellevue

75.0%

Lincoln

75.0%

Tie

Metric	Bellevue, NE	Lincoln, NE	Better
PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.)	7.6 µg/m³	7.6 µg/m³	Tie
Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50	75.0%	75.0%	Tie

Commute

Mean Commute Time

Census ACS

Bellevue

N/A

Lincoln

20.0 min

Metric	Bellevue, NE	Lincoln, NE	Better
Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS	N/A	20.0 min	-

Which City is Right for You?

Lincoln offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $293,233. On public safety, Lincoln is safer with a violent crime rate of 294 per 100,000 residents, compared to 294 in Bellevue. Lincoln has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.6 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Lincoln scores better with a lower obesity rate of 35.1%.

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About Bellevue & Lincoln

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