Please Compare Lincoln, NE living to Washington, DC living (Omaha: real estate, apartment)

[crazy2bjewels]

Hi,

I am considering a move from Washington, DC to Lincoln, NE to follow my boyfriend while he is in gradschool. I really enjoy living in Washington, DC so I have some reservations about moving to Lincoln, NE. I have heard some negative things about living in NE, so I would like to know your opinions. I am in my mid 20's. Thanks for your help

No personal remarks, please. I am not trying to be close-minded about NE stereotypes. I am attempting to educate myself on life in the area. Eg; quality of life, things to do, sightseeing opportunities, openminded-ness in the people, etc. Thanks

[JustMe_T3K]

Wow you started a new thread already?

Originally Posted by crazy2bjewels
I already said that these are not my own opinions of the area. These are all stereotypes that I have read about in other forums from people WHO ALREADY LIVE THERE . That is all. I said in the first place that these are just hypothetical stereotypes that I have heard about. I wasn't labeling. Relax. I'm sorry for the way it came across. I JUST WANT TO HEAR THAT THE AREA IS BEARABLE BECAUSE BASED ON OTHER FORUMS ON HERE THERE IS A TON OF NEGATIVITY FOCUSED ON LIVING IN THAT AREA.



You are going on info from people who didn't like it here. There will always be whiners that blame others for their lack of imagination that will post horrible stories about how they were done wrong.
On the other side you are looking for people to post the great side of living in Lincoln.
It really is up to you and your attitude as to how much you will enjoy it here.
You will meet some horrible people and some great people and a lot of people in between, same as moving anywhere else.

[313 TUxedo]

Originally Posted by crazy2bjewels

Hi,

I am considering a move from Washington, DC to Lincoln, NE to follow my boyfriend while he is in gradschool. I really enjoy living in Washington, DC so I have some reservations about moving to Lincoln, NE. I have heard some negative things about living in NE, so I would like to know your opinions. I am in my mid 20's. Thanks for your help

No personal remarks, please. I am not trying to be close-minded about NE stereotypes. I am attempting to educate myself on life in the area. Eg; quality of life, things to do, sightseeing opportunities, openminded-ness in the people, etc. Thanks

Really hard to compare vastly different cities, Washington is so much larger, and more urban.

Lincoln: No suburbs (construction ends abruptly at the city limit, like in a cartoon, everything for miles outside the city limits is farmland)
Washington: Many suburbs, so many they link with those in other cities.

Lincoln: Quite car-dependent, though there are buses, the routes are not extensive, and transfers are often needed because of the square layout of the city with no "spoke" roads.
Washington: Extensive intracity transit with heavy rail and buses, and broad inter-city options with multiple airports and trains (including the Acela "bullet" train).

Lincoln: Continental climate with cold winters (especially nights) and only adequate rainfall, plenty of sunshine.
Washington: Humid subtropical climate with variable winters (a blizzard could happen, but so could a "short-sleeve" weather day throughout winter).

Lincoln: Murder rate 0.28 times national average.
Washington: Murder rate 5.75 times national average.

Lincoln: UNL museum.
Washington: Smithsonian.

Lincoln: White majority with Hispanic, Vietnamese and African-American minorities.
Washington: African-American majority with white and Hispanic minorities.

Lincoln cost of housing: Moderate.
Washington cost of housing: Expensive.

Lincoln: Unicameral legislature ruling over and influencing 1,826,341 people
Washington: Bicameral legislature ruling over 308,745,538 people and influencing roughly 6,920,000,000 people.

It really boils down to personal taste. Washington could be thought of as a less overwhelming and more affordable alternative to New York City. Lincoln a practical city with a university and the state government to buoy its economy (If you want something in between, look at Columbus for a continental climate and Austin for a subtropical).

Also, your choice may be made by whoever you work for. Will your next assignment be to help lobby for a new casino in Scottsbluff or a new anti-missile system?

[marska]

I have lived in both places fairly recently. Apples and oranges. Very different places. I am not sure how to even compare them- both nice but VERY different

[Gunluvver2]

Originally Posted by crazy2bjewels

Hi,

I am considering a move from Washington, DC to Lincoln, NE to follow my boyfriend while he is in gradschool. I really enjoy living in Washington, DC so I have some reservations about moving to Lincoln, NE. I have heard some negative things about living in NE, so I would like to know your opinions. I am in my mid 20's. Thanks for your help

No personal remarks, please. I am not trying to be close-minded about NE stereotypes. I am attempting to educate myself on life in the area. Eg; quality of life, things to do, sightseeing opportunities, openminded-ness in the people, etc. Thanks

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If you listed the things hat are important to you and the things you dislike it would be easier to advise you. I have never lived in D.C. but I have visited many times. There are more differences than similarities.
GL2

[crazy2bjewels]

Hi! Thanks everyone for your input. It is interesting that you bring up the point that African Americans are the majority in DC. Honestly, this is something that I have never noticed. Perhaps it's because I am actually in the suburbs of DC. Anyhoo...

The things that I really enjoy about living here in the DC area are:

Liberal Atmosphere
Health-conscious community (lots of outdoor activities/gym facilities available)
Lots of fun things to do (night life, museums, scenery, historic scenery, varying neighborhoods)
Metro transport (can get anywhere in the city within 45 mins)
My friends are close- on metro lines
I work in an office building with my own office (if I move to Lincoln, I will keep the same job just have to work from home...which is another conversation)
Minutes to large water and close enough to the beach to take a day trip.

The things that I really dislike about DC:

TRAFFIC
Everyone is very busy. It's just the mindset here. Money, money, money, go, go, go.
Expensive! I pay $750 a month to rent a room 6 miles out of DC (not an apartment) and 3 1/2% property owners tax each year on my car (virginia)
I do not ever see myself buying real estate here.
Summer humidity.
Crime- even though I have never seen any. It it known that you don't ever leave your car unlocked or walk alone at night.

[JustMe_T3K]

-Most liberal area is Omaha and you will be in Lincoln.
-Health clubs available and lots of outdoor activity, of course here it will be cold most of the year.
-Need a car to live here.
-No friends here since you don't know anyone.
+Work at home in your underwear
-No oceans here. There is Branched Oak Lake

+Traffic less then DC
+Lower cost of living here
-Still have property tax on cars here
-Still have humidity
-While probably less crime then DC, will the economy crime is up everywhere.

Lots of fun things to do (night life, museums, scenery, historic scenery, varying neighborhoods)
This depends on your opinion of "lots of fun things", there is plenty to do if you have an open mind and go look for it.

[Gunluvver2]

Originally Posted by crazy2bjewels

Hi! Thanks everyone for your input. It is interesting that you bring up the point that African Americans are the majority in DC. Honestly, this is something that I have never noticed. Perhaps it's because I am actually in the suburbs of DC. Anyhoo...

The things that I really enjoy about living here in the DC area are:
.
Liberal Atmosphere
Health-conscious community (lots of outdoor activities/gym facilities available)
Lots of fun things to do (night life, museums, scenery, historic scenery, varying neighborhoods)
Metro transport (can get anywhere in the city within 45 mins)
My friends are close- on metro lines
I work in an office building with my own office (if I move to Lincoln, I will keep the same job just have to work from home...which is another conversation)
Minutes to large water and close enough to the beach to take a day trip.

The things that I really dislike about DC:

TRAFFIC
Everyone is very busy. It's just the mindset here. Money, money, money, go, go, go.
Expensive! I pay $750 a month to rent a room 6 miles out of DC (not an apartment) and 3 1/2% property owners tax each year on my car (virginia)
I do not ever see myself buying real estate here.
Summer humidity.
Crime- even though I have never seen any. It it known that you don't ever leave your car unlocked or walk alone at night.

************************************************** *****

Your likes point by point
African/American--- My next door neighbor is Black but he says he is an American.
Liberal atmosphere---in Lincoln there are quite a few Liberals. Go ten miles outside of Lincoln and Liberals are in the minority.
Gyms, activities---Lincoln has more.
Lots of fun things- - - Lincoln has lots but they may be different than what you are used to.
Metro transport- - - StarTran in Lincoln is a joke. Currently AmTrak is closed because of flooding.
Your friends- - - in Lincoln you will make new ones.
Job at home. Lincoln has great Internet options. Better than D.C.? Maybe.
Our water recreation on area Lakes is decent but it is a long way to the Beach.
Now your dislikes about D.C.
Traffic in Lincoln. We moan and groan from 7:00 to 8:00 AM and 4:00 to 5:00 PM but even during those hours it is less than 45 minutes across Lincoln.
Lincoln's cost of living is less but then so are wages. If you will be doing the same job you had in D.C. do you keep the same salary? If so Lincoln will be a huge plus.
Rent in Lincoln. $750/month will get a nice two or three bedroom apartment or a small home in a decent neighborhood. Lincoln wins.
Car taxes in Lincoln are high. Compared to VA I don't know.
There are some real estate bargains in Lincoln. If you will still be making a D.C. salary you will be able to buy what would be considered a MANSION in D.C.
Crime in Lincoln--- Most of the violent crime in Lincoln is domestic disputes or drug related. However on a much smaller scale than D.C. We do lock our doors and don't leave our keys in the car. Per capita there are many more GUNS in Lincoln than in D.C. but the only places you will hear gunshots on a regular basis would be on the very edge of the city during pheasant hunting season. We might have two to four murders a year in Lincoln during a BAD year. Some years there have been ZERO.

There are a few of us REDNECKS (I consider myself a redneck) in Lincoln but MOST of us don't go totally berserk when we see a Liberal.

GL2

[crazy2bjewels]

Thanks for your feedback. I appreciate it.

[smithgreat]

Lincoln is a large town/very small city. Small cities such as Lincoln will simply not have the same caliber of things to do or mass transit as one of the major metropolitan areas. It's just how things are.

I was born and raised in Chicago, so I know the draw of the large cities. Lincoln has nothing like Chicago, or probably Washington DC to see or do. That being said, I have lived in Lincoln for the past two years and love it. The quality of life here is wonderful. Although this is a rather conservative state, there is little tolerance for extremes of any kind. There are plenty of things to see and do, as long as you are creative and open minded. Sometimes one does have to make your own fun. Many people here are very health conscious. There is a great running and cycling community here. There are also gyms and other sporting groups as well.

Besides, Denver and Kansas City are not that far away, if you find yourself missing the big city and all the things to see and do. After living here two years, I'm not sure I'd ever want to move back to a large city again. Nebraska is the good life.