City comparison
No. Lincoln's crime index is 124 versus 212 in Aurora, and its violent crime index is 114 versus 248, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Lincoln is cheaper. Median rent is $1,086 a month versus $1,835 in Aurora.
Safety is where Aurora and Lincoln split most clearly. Lincoln scores 88 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,835 in Aurora and $1,086 in Lincoln.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Lincoln costs less and Aurora pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Lincoln at $1,086 average has pockets that run $886 and others at $1,486: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Aurora and Lincoln are 437 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,835 a month in Aurora to $1,086 a month in Lincoln, down $749 a month (41%).
Median household income goes from $88,368 in Aurora to $71,867 in Lincoln, down $16,501 (19%).
The crime index goes from 212 in Aurora to 124 in Lincoln, down 88 points (42%).
The move
Lincoln and Aurora are 437 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,086 a month in Lincoln to $1,835 a month in Aurora, up $749 a month (69%).
Median household income goes from $71,867 in Lincoln to $88,368 in Aurora, up $16,501 (23%).
The crime index goes from 124 in Lincoln to 212 in Aurora, up 88 points (71%).
Aurora, CO
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 Aurora and Lincoln? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
41% cheaper
Lincoln rent is 41% cheaper than Aurora
Aurora
$1,835/mo
Lincoln
Winner$1,086/mo
Typical rent runs $1,086 a month in Lincoln versus $1,835 in Aurora, so Lincoln is 41% cheaper. That's roughly $749/month back in your pocket ($8,988/year). Over five years that's $44,940 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Aurora, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Lincoln is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Lincoln? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
23% higher
Aurora's median income is 23% higher than Lincoln
Aurora
Winner$88,368
Lincoln
$71,867
Median household income is $88,368 in Aurora versus $71,867 in Lincoln, so typical pay runs 23% higher in Aurora (about $16,501 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Aurora is the stronger labor market on paper. Lincoln can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
42% lower crime
Lincoln's crime index is 42% lower than Aurora
Aurora
212 (100 = avg)
Lincoln
Winner124 (100 = avg)
Lincoln's crime index is 124 versus 212 in Aurora (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 42% 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. Aurora can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
24% more comfortable
Aurora weather is 24% more comfortable than Lincoln
Aurora
Winner61°F avg · 71°F highs · comfort 89/100
Lincoln
55°F avg · 64°F highs · comfort 72/100
Aurora averages about 61°F (71°F highs); Lincoln averages about 55°F (64°F highs). Aurora averages around 61°F. Lincoln averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Aurora scores 24% 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
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 23% higher ($88,368), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 61°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Lincoln is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 41% 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 fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 42% lower than Aurora (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
On rent alone, Lincoln undercuts Aurora by $749/month ($1,086 vs $1,835). I would not pick Aurora on housing cost without a job that clears that spread.
Lincoln rent at $1,086/month is still below Aurora's $1,835, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $88,368 in Aurora versus $71,867 in Lincoln.
Lincoln is the default on housing cost at $1,086/month versus $1,835 in Aurora; Aurora stays in play when $88,368 local pay or an existing job offer outweighs the $749 lease gap.
Common questions
Ready to move to Lincoln?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Lincoln when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Aurora and Lincoln, plus other cities in CO and NE.
