Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from Lincoln to New York
Based on 2024 ACS 5-year data, Lincoln, NE has a median household income of $71,867, median gross rent of $1,086, and a 20-minute commute. New York, NY reports $80,483 income, $1,821 rent, and a 44-minute commute. While New York offers higher income, its housing costs are 68% above Lincoln’s and commute time more than doubles. Lincoln provides a more favorable income-to-housing ratio and significantly shorter commute, though New York’s income advantage partially offsets its elevated costs. No universal winner is declared, as trade-offs depend on individual priorities regarding space, time, and cost tolerance.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to New York → LincolnMoving from Lincoln to New York
Median Rent Impact
+$735/mo
Moving to New York costs ~$8,820 more/yr in rent.
State Tax Treatment
+5.5%
~$5,500 more state tax on a $100k salary in New York.
Daily Commute Difference
+24 min / day
Difference of ~200 hours per year spent commuting based on 2024 ACS midpoint averages.
Your move
Compare the life behind the offer.
Adjust the assumptions. Every result updates instantly.
Search all 32,330 U.S. Census places directly below.Instant results use official 2024 ACS place data. Places with incomplete required signals remain visible in search but cannot be selected.
Directional estimate using ACS citywide benchmarks. Verified profiles may include a simplified state-tax reference; automatically added profiles exclude state tax until an official reference is approved. Exact tax, benefits, debt, housing, insurance, and personal circumstances may materially change the result.
LIVE VERDICTLIN → NYC
32/ 100
The offer needs work
The destination absorbs more of the offer.Estimated annual life delta−$2,596after essentials; unverified state tax excluded
Best gainThe deepest employment market and largest-city scale in the reviewed cohort
Watch closelyThe cohort's longest commute estimate plus a separate New York City resident income tax
The short answer
In the uniform one-person renting baseline, Lincoln is about $8,820 lower per year. This is not a verdict by itself: replace city medians with the actual offer, address, household, benefits, insurance, and tax details before deciding.
Lincoln household income$71,867
New York household income$80,483
Lincoln gross rent$1,086
New York gross rent$1,821
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | Lincoln | New York |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 294,856 | 8,483,844 |
| Median household income | $71,867 | $80,483 |
| Median gross rent | $1,086 | $1,821 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $264,000 | $777,600 |
| State-tax treatment | Excluded | 5.5% simplified |
Time and daily routine
The commute-time distribution produces a weighted one-way estimate of about 20 minutes in Lincoln and 44 minutes in New York. This citywide estimate cannot capture a specific route, remote-work schedule, or transit choice, so the calculator converts it into an explicit time difference instead of hiding it in a subjective lifestyle score.
Decision checklist
- Median household income comparison
- Median gross rent affordability
- One-way commute time duration
- State individual income tax rate assumption
What each city wins
Lincoln
Rent-to-income ratio is favorable at ~18%.. Watch lower housing costs may reflect tradeoffs in job quality or amenities not captured in acs data..
New York
The deepest employment market and largest-city scale in the reviewed cohort. Watch the cohort's longest commute estimate plus a separate new york city resident income tax.
Frequently asked questions
How does housing cost relative to income compare between the two cities?
In Lincoln, median gross rent represents about 18% of median household income, while in New York, it accounts for roughly 27%, indicating Lincoln offers a more favorable rent-to-income ratio based on 2024 ACS data.
What is the trade-off between commute time and income when comparing these cities?
New York workers earn about 12% more than Lincoln residents on average but spend over twice as long commuting—44 versus 20 minutes one-way—highlighting a significant time-cost trade-off in favor of Lincoln for time-sensitive households.
Source boundary: Core figures come from the 2024 ACS five-year tables linked on each city profile. Commute is derived from B08303 midpoint weighting. A state-tax value without an approved official reference is excluded and disclosed. This comparison becomes index-eligible only after its unique analysis clears the content quality gate.