Hastings, NE vs Lexington, NE

Hastings, NE and Lexington, NE have a very similar cost of living, with only a 2% difference in their overall index. Hastings scores 71 while Lexington scores 73 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Hastings is $858/month compared to $921/month in Lexington — a 7% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Hastings has cheaper rent, Lexington actually has lower median home values ($155,200 vs $177,200).

Median household income in Hastings is $61,202 compared to $62,364 in Lexington (-1.9%). The higher salaries in Lexington partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Hastings spend roughly 16.8% of their income on rent, less than the 17.7% in Lexington.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (51.9°F vs 50.2°F). Hastings receives more rainfall at 26.4" per year compared to 22.9" in Lexington.