City comparison
No. Lincoln's crime index is 124 versus 338 in Baltimore, and its violent crime index is 114 versus 428, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Lincoln is cheaper. Median rent is $1,086 a month versus $1,331 in Baltimore.
Safety is where Baltimore and Lincoln split most clearly. Lincoln scores 214 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,331 in Baltimore 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. Baltimore 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 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
Baltimore and Lincoln are 1,064 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,331 a month in Baltimore to $1,086 a month in Lincoln, down $245 a month (18%).
Median household income goes from $62,177 in Baltimore to $71,867 in Lincoln, up $9,690 (16%).
The crime index goes from 338 in Baltimore to 124 in Lincoln, down 214 points (63%).
The move
Lincoln and Baltimore are 1,064 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,086 a month in Lincoln to $1,331 a month in Baltimore, up $245 a month (23%).
Median household income goes from $71,867 in Lincoln to $62,177 in Baltimore, down $9,690 (13%).
The crime index goes from 124 in Lincoln to 338 in Baltimore, up 214 points (173%).
Baltimore, MD
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 Baltimore and Lincoln? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
18% cheaper
Lincoln rent is 18% cheaper than Baltimore
Baltimore
$1,331/mo
Lincoln
Winner$1,086/mo
Typical rent runs $1,086 a month in Lincoln versus $1,331 in Baltimore, so Lincoln is 18% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $2,940, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Lincoln still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Baltimore.
Planning to buy in Lincoln? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
16% higher
Lincoln's median income is 16% higher than Baltimore
Baltimore
$62,177
Lincoln
Winner$71,867
Median household income is $71,867 in Lincoln versus $62,177 in Baltimore, so typical pay runs 16% higher in Lincoln (about $9,690 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, Lincoln is the stronger labor market on paper. Baltimore can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
63% lower crime
Lincoln's crime index is 63% lower than Baltimore
Baltimore
338 (100 = avg)
Lincoln
Winner124 (100 = avg)
Lincoln's crime index is 124 versus 338 in Baltimore (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 63% 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. Baltimore can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Baltimore and Lincoln are about even on typical weather.
Baltimore
55°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 72/100
Lincoln
55°F avg · 64°F highs · comfort 72/100
Baltimore averages about 55°F (62°F highs); Lincoln averages about 55°F (64°F highs). Baltimore averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Lincoln averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Baltimore
On these five categories Lincoln takes the scoreboard, so you should not choose Baltimore because the stats are kinder. They are not. Choose Baltimore only if a job offer, family, a specific neighborhood, or a life you already started there outweighs the box score. Plenty of good moves ignore the aggregate; just do it on purpose.
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 18% 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 16% 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 63% lower than Baltimore (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
Safety is the widest gap: Lincoln scores 53/100 versus 23/100 in Baltimore. Rent is $1,086/month in Lincoln and $1,331/month in Baltimore, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Safety still diverges (53/100 in Lincoln vs 23/100 in Baltimore), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $71,867 in Lincoln versus $62,177 in Baltimore.
Lincoln is ahead on safety (53/100 vs 23/100); Baltimore is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,331/month rent plus $62,177 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Baltimore and Lincoln, plus other cities in MD and NE.
