City comparison
No. Lincoln's crime index is 124 versus 162 in Austin, and its violent crime index is 114 versus 130, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Lincoln is cheaper. Median rent is $1,086 a month versus $1,729 in Austin.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Austin and Lincoln. Austin averages 68°F while Lincoln averages 55°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,729 versus $1,086.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Lincoln costs less and Austin 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
Austin and Lincoln are 730 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,729 a month in Austin to $1,086 a month in Lincoln, down $643 a month (37%).
Median household income goes from $93,658 in Austin to $71,867 in Lincoln, down $21,791 (23%).
The crime index goes from 162 in Austin to 124 in Lincoln, down 38 points (23%).
The move
Lincoln and Austin are 730 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,086 a month in Lincoln to $1,729 a month in Austin, up $643 a month (59%).
Median household income goes from $71,867 in Lincoln to $93,658 in Austin, up $21,791 (30%).
The crime index goes from 124 in Lincoln to 162 in Austin, up 38 points (31%).
Austin, TX
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 Austin and Lincoln? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
37% cheaper
Lincoln rent is 37% cheaper than Austin
Austin
$1,729/mo
Lincoln
Winner$1,086/mo
Typical rent runs $1,086 a month in Lincoln versus $1,729 in Austin, so Lincoln is 37% cheaper. That's roughly $643/month back in your pocket ($7,716/year). Over five years that's $38,580 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 Austin, 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
30% higher
Austin's median income is 30% higher than Lincoln
Austin
Winner$93,658
Lincoln
$71,867
Median household income is $93,658 in Austin versus $71,867 in Lincoln, so typical pay runs 30% higher in Austin (about $21,791 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, Austin 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
23% lower crime
Lincoln's crime index is 23% lower than Austin
Austin
162 (100 = avg)
Lincoln
Winner124 (100 = avg)
Lincoln's crime index is 124 versus 162 in Austin (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 23% 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. Austin can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
39% more comfortable
Austin weather is 39% more comfortable than Lincoln
Austin
Winner68°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Lincoln
55°F avg · 64°F highs · comfort 72/100
Austin averages about 68°F (76°F highs); Lincoln averages about 55°F (64°F highs). Austin sits near 68°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. Austin 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
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 30% higher ($93,658), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 68°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 37% 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 23% lower than Austin (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 Austin by $643/month ($1,086 vs $1,729). I would not pick Austin on housing cost without a job that clears that spread.
Safety still diverges (53/100 in Lincoln vs 45/100 in Austin), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Safety scores read 45/100 in Austin and 53/100 in Lincoln.
Lincoln is the default on housing cost at $1,086/month versus $1,729 in Austin; Austin stays in play when $93,658 local pay or an existing job offer outweighs the $643 lease gap.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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