Lincoln, Neb., is the 99th-best city for women, according to a new WalletHub study comparing 182 cities across 15 key indicators of living standards for women. The analysis considered factors ranging from median wages and unemployment rates to healthcare access and safety.
Nationally, women who work full-time still earn just 82% of what men earn, on average, according to the Department of Labor, and they remain underrepresented in leadership positions in business and politics. Still, some cities provide far better conditions for women than others.
“Living in the right city can significantly improve a woman's economic status, health, and safety,” said WalletHub analyst Milvionne Chery. “The best cities for women offer job security and high pay, enabling women to achieve greater financial independence. They also prioritize safety, including minimizing crime, and they provide easily accessible medical care at high-quality hospitals, contributing to the best possible physical and mental health for women.”
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In-Depth Look at Lincoln
Lincoln has the 20th-lowest unemployment rate for women, which is especially important amid current economic uncertainty. The city also has the 29th-highest share of physically active women and the 58th-lowest share of women without health insurance, both of which can help prevent future health problems.
However, Lincoln has room for improvement in other areas. For example, the city has the 52nd-lowest share of women-owned businesses, so it's not necessarily a great place for female entrepreneurs. It also has the 60th-highest obesity rate among women, which can lead to larger health issues developing.
How Lincoln Ranks in Other Key Metrics
- 69th: Poverty rate for women
- 73rd: Share of women receiving cervical cancer screenings
- 80th: Median earnings for women, adjusted for the cost of living
- 112th: Job security for women
WalletHub's study groups the metrics into two categories: Women's Economic & Social Well-Being, which makes up 60% of the total scoring, and Women's Healthcare & Safety, which makes up the other 40%.
Lincoln ranks 76th for Women's Economic & Social Well-Being and 116th for Women's Healthcare & Safety, which puts it in 99th place overall out of the 182 cities in WalletHub's study.
Best Cities for Women
Overall Rank | City | Total Score | Economic & Social Well-Being Rank | Healthcare & Safety Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Columbia, MD | 78.20 | 2 | 3 |
2 | Seattle, WA | 72.85 | 8 | 19 |
3 | Fremont, CA | 71.93 | 19 | 5 |
4 | South Burlington, VT | 71.38 | 33 | 1 |
5 | Washington, DC | 70.04 | 14 | 23 |
6 | San Francisco, CA | 67.90 | 42 | 9 |
7 | Overland Park, KS | 67.84 | 10 | 49 |
8 | Raleigh, NC | 67.19 | 6 | 64 |
9 | Gilbert, AZ | 67.07 | 5 | 68 |
10 | Santa Clarita, CA | 66.51 | 63 | 6 |
The methodology can be found on the full version of the article on WalletHub.
