City comparison
No. Lincoln's crime index is 124 versus 200 in Colorado Springs, and its violent crime index is 114 versus 204, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Lincoln is cheaper. Median rent is $1,086 a month versus $1,648 in Colorado Springs.
Safety is where Colorado Springs and Lincoln split most clearly. Lincoln scores 76 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,648 in Colorado Springs and $1,086 in Lincoln.
This is a genuine split. Colorado Springs wins on the job market and Lincoln wins on cost of living and safety. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
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
Colorado Springs and Lincoln are 453 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs to $1,086 a month in Lincoln, down $562 a month (34%).
Median household income goes from $84,818 in Colorado Springs to $71,867 in Lincoln, down $12,951 (15%).
The crime index goes from 200 in Colorado Springs to 124 in Lincoln, down 76 points (38%).
The move
Lincoln and Colorado Springs are 453 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,086 a month in Lincoln to $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs, up $562 a month (52%).
Median household income goes from $71,867 in Lincoln to $84,818 in Colorado Springs, up $12,951 (18%).
The crime index goes from 124 in Lincoln to 200 in Colorado Springs, up 76 points (61%).
Colorado Springs, 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 Colorado Springs and Lincoln? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
34% cheaper
Lincoln rent is 34% cheaper than Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs
$1,648/mo
Lincoln
Winner$1,086/mo
Typical rent runs $1,086 a month in Lincoln versus $1,648 in Colorado Springs, so Lincoln is 34% cheaper. That's roughly $562/month back in your pocket ($6,744/year). Over five years that's $33,720 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 Colorado Springs, 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
18% higher
Colorado Springs's median income is 18% higher than Lincoln
Colorado Springs
Winner$84,818
Lincoln
$71,867
Median household income is $84,818 in Colorado Springs versus $71,867 in Lincoln, so typical pay runs 18% higher in Colorado Springs (about $12,951 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, Colorado Springs 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
38% lower crime
Lincoln's crime index is 38% lower than Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs
200 (100 = avg)
Lincoln
Winner124 (100 = avg)
Lincoln's crime index is 124 versus 200 in Colorado Springs (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 38% 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. Colorado Springs can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Colorado Springs and Lincoln are about even on typical weather.
Colorado Springs
55°F avg · 63°F highs · comfort 72/100
Lincoln
55°F avg · 64°F highs · comfort 72/100
Colorado Springs averages about 55°F (63°F highs); Lincoln averages about 55°F (64°F highs). Colorado Springs 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
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Colorado Springs is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 18% higher here ($84,818). Start with Colorado Springs if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
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 34% 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 38% lower than Colorado Springs (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 Colorado Springs by $562/month ($1,086 vs $1,648). I would not pick Colorado Springs on housing cost without a job that clears that spread.
Lincoln rent at $1,086/month is still below Colorado Springs's $1,648, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $84,818 in Colorado Springs versus $71,867 in Lincoln.
Between Colorado Springs and Lincoln, Lincoln is ahead on housing cost — $1,086/month rent against $1,648. Lean Colorado Springs instead when your $84,818 income offer in Colorado Springs outweighs saving $562/month in Lincoln.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Colorado Springs and Lincoln, plus other cities in CO and NE.
