City comparison
No. Lincoln's crime index is 124 versus 293 in Albuquerque, and its violent crime index is 114 versus 320, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Lincoln is cheaper. Median rent is $1,086 a month versus $1,145 in Albuquerque.
Safety is where Albuquerque and Lincoln split most clearly. Lincoln scores 169 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,145 in Albuquerque and $1,086 in Lincoln.
Lincoln is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, and safety by margins that add up in daily life. Albuquerque makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Lincoln is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Lincoln has rougher pockets and Albuquerque has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Albuquerque and Lincoln are 672 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,145 a month in Albuquerque to $1,086 a month in Lincoln, down $59 a month (5%).
Median household income goes from $68,317 in Albuquerque to $71,867 in Lincoln, up $3,550 (5%).
The crime index goes from 293 in Albuquerque to 124 in Lincoln, down 169 points (58%).
The move
Lincoln and Albuquerque are 672 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,086 a month in Lincoln to $1,145 a month in Albuquerque, up $59 a month (5%).
Median household income goes from $71,867 in Lincoln to $68,317 in Albuquerque, down $3,550 (5%).
The crime index goes from 124 in Lincoln to 293 in Albuquerque, up 169 points (136%).
Albuquerque, NM
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Lincoln, NE
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Albuquerque and Lincoln? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
5% cheaper
Lincoln rent is 5% cheaper than Albuquerque
Albuquerque
$1,145/mo
Lincoln
Winner$1,086/mo
Typical rent runs $1,086 a month in Lincoln versus $1,145 in Albuquerque, so Lincoln is 5% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $59, or $708 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Lincoln? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
5% higher
Lincoln's median income is 5% higher than Albuquerque
Albuquerque
$68,317
Lincoln
Winner$71,867
Median household income is $71,867 in Lincoln versus $68,317 in Albuquerque, so typical pay runs 5% higher in Lincoln (about $3,550 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
58% lower crime
Lincoln's crime index is 58% lower than Albuquerque
Albuquerque
293 (100 = avg)
Lincoln
Winner124 (100 = avg)
Lincoln's crime index is 124 versus 293 in Albuquerque (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 58% lower in Lincoln. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Lincoln is the easier city. Albuquerque can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
39% more comfortable
Albuquerque weather is 39% more comfortable than Lincoln
Albuquerque
Winner65°F avg · 72°F highs · comfort 100/100
Lincoln
55°F avg · 64°F highs · comfort 72/100
Albuquerque averages about 65°F (72°F highs); Lincoln averages about 55°F (64°F highs). Albuquerque sits near 65°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Lincoln averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Albuquerque scores 39% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Lincoln if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Pick Albuquerque if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (65°F) beat Lincoln on this page's weather index by 39%. Lincoln may pay more or cost less, but Albuquerque is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Lincoln is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 5% cheaper here at about $1,086 a month. Choose Lincoln if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Lincoln is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 5% higher here ($71,867). Start with Lincoln if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Lincoln is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 58% lower than Albuquerque (124 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Bottom line
Crime and safety tilt toward Lincoln: Lincoln scores 53/100 versus 27/100 in Albuquerque, with typical rent at $1,086 versus $1,145. I would vet the exact ZIP in Albuquerque before trading 26 safety points for housing savings.
Safety still diverges (53/100 in Lincoln vs 27/100 in Albuquerque), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $71,867 in Lincoln versus $68,317 in Albuquerque.
Pick Lincoln when you want the stronger safety signal (53/100). Otherwise, Albuquerque's case rests on a Albuquerque ZIP you trust at $1,145 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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