Alliance
Nebraska, USA
#28 in USA
72
Overall Score
VS
Ponca City
Oklahoma, USA
#128 in USA
60
Overall Score
Alliance scores higher overall

Score Breakdown

Alliance
Ponca City
Livability
74
60
Affordability
65
85
Business
68
65
Growth
70
45

Cost of Living

Alliance is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run approximately 17% lower compared to Ponca City. Housing costs are a major driver: Alliance's average rent is 19% lower than Ponca City's.
MetricAlliancePonca CityDiff
Average Rent
$647$800-19%
Groceries
$450$649-31%
Utilities
$180$208-13%
Transport
$120$186-35%
Healthcare
$250$139+80%
Monthly Total
$1,647$1,982-17%
Cost Index
9083out of 100

Salary & Income

Alliance offers 99% higher average salaries. However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Alliance delivers stronger purchasing power — meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day. The minimum comfortable salary in Alliance is estimated at $55,000 vs $52,000 in Ponca City.
MetricAlliancePonca City
Average Salary
$65,160$32,704
Salary Needed
$55,000$52,000
Purchasing Power
72,400 idx39,402 idx
Household Income
$65,160$55,941

Climate Comparison

Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
MetricAlliancePonca City
Avg Temp
°F°F
Summer High
°F°F
Winter Low
°F°F
Rainfall
in in
Snowfall
in in
Sunny Days
Humidity
65.00%75.00%

Commute & Transport

Alliance has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly 2,500 minutes (42 hours) per year compared to Ponca City. Ponca City scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living. For walkability, Ponca City leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
MetricAlliancePonca City
Commute Time
11 min16 min
Transit Score
14.0/1020.0/10
Walkability
0.0/1030.0/10
Traffic Index
45.0030.00
Car Dependency
HighHigh

Economy & Demographics

Ponca City is the larger city — approximately 0.3x the population of Alliance. From a growth perspective, Alliance is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services. On the employment side, Alliance has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
MetricAlliancePonca City
Population
8,07524,221
Pop. Growth
%%
Median Age
40.837.1
Unemployment
4.10%4.20%
GDP
$0.0B$0.0B

Pros & Cons

Alliance
Advantages
Cost of living is 9% lower than the national average, with housing costs being 30% lower.
Violent crime rate is significantly lower than the national average, with 0 reported murders in 2024.
High homeownership rate of 75.2%.
Short average commute time of 10.6 minutes.
The Health Care & Social Assistance sector is a major employer in the city.
Drawbacks
Population has been declining slightly in recent years.
Walkability and transit scores are very low, indicating high car dependency.
Limited retail options within the city, requiring travel to nearby Scottsbluff for more extensive shopping.
The overall climate risk is rated as 'Relatively High'.
Drug activity is noted as a concern within the community.
Ponca City
Advantages
The cost of living in Ponca City is 17.4% lower than the national average, making it highly affordable.
Housing expenses are significantly lower, approximately 30.8% less expensive than the national average.
The average commute time is relatively short at 15.7 minutes.
Ponca City has a strong presence of manufacturing, agriculture, and energy industries, providing diverse employment opportunities.
The city offers a temperate climate with distinct seasonal changes, suitable for various outdoor activities.
Drawbacks
Ponca City has a higher crime rate than the national average, with an overall safety grade of D+.
The city has experienced a slight population decline, with a projected annual rate of -0.02% in 2026.
Employment in Ponca City saw a decline of -0.508% from 2023 to 2024.
Public transportation options are limited, and the city is highly car-dependent.
The poverty rate in Ponca City is 17.95%, which is higher than the national average.

Dive Deeper

Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.

Alliance
#28
Nebraska, USA
72.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$647
Avg Salary
$65,160
Cost Index
90
Commute
11 min
Transit Score
14.0/10
Walkability
0.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
4.10%
Livability
74
Business
68
View Full Profile
Ponca City
#128
Oklahoma, USA
60.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$800
Avg Salary
$32,704
Cost Index
83
Commute
16 min
Transit Score
20.0/10
Walkability
30.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
4.20%
Livability
60
Business
65
View Full Profile

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