City comparison
No. Lincoln's crime index is 124 versus 231 in Cincinnati, and its violent crime index is 114 versus 237, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Cincinnati is cheaper. Median rent is $1,001 a month versus $1,086 in Lincoln.
Safety is where Cincinnati and Lincoln split most clearly. Lincoln scores 107 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,001 in Cincinnati and $1,086 in Lincoln.
Lincoln is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Cincinnati 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 Cincinnati has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Cincinnati and Lincoln are 653 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,001 a month in Cincinnati to $1,086 a month in Lincoln, up $85 a month (8%).
Median household income goes from $52,909 in Cincinnati to $71,867 in Lincoln, up $18,958 (36%).
The crime index goes from 231 in Cincinnati to 124 in Lincoln, down 107 points (46%).
The move
Lincoln and Cincinnati are 653 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,086 a month in Lincoln to $1,001 a month in Cincinnati, down $85 a month (8%).
Median household income goes from $71,867 in Lincoln to $52,909 in Cincinnati, down $18,958 (26%).
The crime index goes from 124 in Lincoln to 231 in Cincinnati, up 107 points (86%).
Cincinnati, OH
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 Cincinnati and Lincoln? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
8% cheaper
Cincinnati rent is 8% cheaper than Lincoln
Cincinnati
Winner$1,001/mo
Lincoln
$1,086/mo
Typical rent runs $1,001 a month in Cincinnati versus $1,086 in Lincoln, so Cincinnati is 8% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $85, or $1,020 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
36% higher
Lincoln's median income is 36% higher than Cincinnati
Cincinnati
$52,909
Lincoln
Winner$71,867
Median household income is $71,867 in Lincoln versus $52,909 in Cincinnati, so typical pay runs 36% higher in Lincoln (about $18,958 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. Cincinnati can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
46% lower crime
Lincoln's crime index is 46% lower than Cincinnati
Cincinnati
231 (100 = avg)
Lincoln
Winner124 (100 = avg)
Lincoln's crime index is 124 versus 231 in Cincinnati (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 46% 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. Cincinnati can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
9% more comfortable
Lincoln weather is 9% more comfortable than Cincinnati
Cincinnati
53°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 66/100
Lincoln
Winner55°F avg · 64°F highs · comfort 72/100
Cincinnati averages about 53°F (62°F highs); Lincoln averages about 55°F (64°F highs). Cincinnati averages around 53°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. Lincoln scores 9% 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 Cincinnati if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Cincinnati
Cincinnati is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 8% cheaper here at about $1,001 a month. Choose Cincinnati if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
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 36% higher ($71,867), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 55°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Lincoln is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 46% lower than Cincinnati (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 35/100 in Cincinnati, with typical rent at $1,086 versus $1,001. I would vet the exact ZIP in Cincinnati before trading 18 safety points for housing savings.
Cincinnati rent at $1,001/month is still below Lincoln's $1,086, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 53°F in Cincinnati and 55°F in Lincoln.
Pick Lincoln when you want the stronger safety signal (53/100). Otherwise, Cincinnati's case rests on a Cincinnati ZIP you trust at $1,001 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Cincinnati and Lincoln, plus other cities in OH and NE.
