Is it cheaper to live in Concord or Lincoln?

Lincoln, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 27% below Concord, NH's $1,410, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Concord than in Lincoln?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $45,000 a year in Concord versus $35,000 in Lincoln.

Which has lower taxes, Concord or Lincoln?

Concord is taxed under New Hampshire's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Lincoln under Nebraska's (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax).

Concord vs Lincoln Cost of Living 2026

Concord

New Hampshire

$1,410/mo est.

Lincoln

Nebraska

$1,030/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,410 in Concord, NH versus $1,030 in Lincoln, NE. Overall, Lincoln, NE is roughly 27% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Concord, NH, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $83,701 in Concord, NH and $69,991 in Lincoln, NE — about 16% higher in Concord, NH. New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax; Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Concord, NH

Lincoln, NE

Rent

Studio

$876

$851

+3% in Concord, NH

1 Bedroom

$1,134

$879

+22% in Concord, NH

2 Bedroom

$1,475

$1,070

+27% in Concord, NH

3 Bedroom

$1,769

$1,379

+22% in Concord, NH

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$323,700

$248,200

+23% in Concord, NH

Income

Median Household Income

$83,701

$69,991

+16% in Concord, NH

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$49,800

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

40.7 yr

33.4 yr

+7.3 yr in Concord, NH

Homeownership

57.4%

55.8%

+1.6 pp in Concord, NH

Bachelor's+ (25+)

40.1%

41.0%

+0.9 pp in Lincoln, NE

Avg Commute

23.2 min

18.3 min

+4.9 min in Concord, NH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

180.7

363.1

+101% in Lincoln, NE

Property Crime

1,251.5

2,484.4

+99% in Lincoln, NE

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

46.4°F

51.5°F

+5.1°F in Lincoln, NE

Annual Precipitation

40.6 in

30.9 in

+9.8 in in Concord, NH

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.85/gal

+2% in Concord, NH

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

27.0

13.3

+51% in Concord, NH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$21.67

$20.10

+7% in Concord, NH

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$1.66

+14% in Concord, NH

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$3.63

+66% in Lincoln, NE

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$6.77

+2% in Concord, NH

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$2.10

+4% in Concord, NH

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.62

+11% in Concord, NH

Average prices — Northeast vs Midwest (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NH / NE)

None

5.5%

+5.5 pp in NE

Income Tax (top rate)

None

4.55%

+4.5 pp in NE

Concord vs Lincoln — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Concord or Lincoln?: Lincoln, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 27% below Concord, NH's $1,410, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Concord than in Lincoln?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $45,000 a year in Concord versus $35,000 in Lincoln.
Which has lower taxes, Concord or Lincoln?: Concord is taxed under New Hampshire's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Lincoln under Nebraska's (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).