City comparison
No. Lincoln's crime index is 124 versus 341 in Cleveland, and its violent crime index is 114 versus 425, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Cleveland is cheaper. Median rent is $1,060 a month versus $1,086 in Lincoln.
Safety is where Cleveland and Lincoln split most clearly. Lincoln scores 217 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,060 in Cleveland 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. Cleveland 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 Cleveland has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Cleveland and Lincoln are 779 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,060 a month in Cleveland to $1,086 a month in Lincoln, up $26 a month (2%).
Median household income goes from $64,468 in Cleveland to $71,867 in Lincoln, up $7,399 (11%).
The crime index goes from 341 in Cleveland to 124 in Lincoln, down 217 points (64%).
The move
Lincoln and Cleveland are 779 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,086 a month in Lincoln to $1,060 a month in Cleveland, down $26 a month (2%).
Median household income goes from $71,867 in Lincoln to $64,468 in Cleveland, down $7,399 (10%).
The crime index goes from 124 in Lincoln to 341 in Cleveland, up 217 points (175%).
Cleveland, 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 Cleveland and Lincoln? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
2% cheaper
Cleveland rent is 2% cheaper than Lincoln
Cleveland
Winner$1,060/mo
Lincoln
$1,086/mo
Typical rent runs $1,060 a month in Cleveland versus $1,086 in Lincoln, so Cleveland is 2% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $26, or $312 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
11% higher
Lincoln's median income is 11% higher than Cleveland
Cleveland
$64,468
Lincoln
Winner$71,867
Median household income is $71,867 in Lincoln versus $64,468 in Cleveland, so typical pay runs 11% higher in Lincoln (about $7,399 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. Cleveland can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
64% lower crime
Lincoln's crime index is 64% lower than Cleveland
Cleveland
341 (100 = avg)
Lincoln
Winner124 (100 = avg)
Lincoln's crime index is 124 versus 341 in Cleveland (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 64% 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. Cleveland 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 Cleveland
Cleveland
53°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 66/100
Lincoln
Winner55°F avg · 64°F highs · comfort 72/100
Cleveland averages about 53°F (58°F highs); Lincoln averages about 55°F (64°F highs). Cleveland 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 Cleveland 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 Cleveland
Cleveland is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 2% cheaper here at about $1,060 a month. Choose Cleveland 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 11% 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 64% lower than Cleveland (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
Cleveland carries the heavier crime signal on this page (23/100 safety vs 53/100 in Lincoln). That 30-point spread matters more than the $26 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Cleveland rent at $1,060/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 Cleveland and 55°F in Lincoln.
If safety drives your move, Lincoln is the stronger match (53/100 safety versus 23/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Cleveland, treat $1,060/month rent and $64,468 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
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 Cleveland and Lincoln, plus other cities in OH and NE.
