City comparison
No. Lincoln's crime index is 124 versus 164 in Columbus, and its violent crime index is 114 versus 140, using 2024 FBI data for Columbus and 2024-2025 FBI data for Lincoln.
Lincoln is cheaper. Median rent is $1,086 a month versus $1,295 in Columbus.
Safety is where Columbus and Lincoln split most clearly. Lincoln scores 40 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,295 in Columbus and $1,086 in Lincoln.
Lincoln is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Columbus 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
Columbus and Lincoln are 721 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,295 a month in Columbus to $1,086 a month in Lincoln, down $209 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $66,082 in Columbus to $71,867 in Lincoln, up $5,785 (9%).
The crime index goes from 164 in Columbus to 124 in Lincoln, down 40 points (24%).
The move
Lincoln and Columbus are 721 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,086 a month in Lincoln to $1,295 a month in Columbus, up $209 a month (19%).
Median household income goes from $71,867 in Lincoln to $66,082 in Columbus, down $5,785 (8%).
The crime index goes from 124 in Lincoln to 164 in Columbus, up 40 points (32%).
Columbus, 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 Columbus and Lincoln? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
16% cheaper
Lincoln rent is 16% cheaper than Columbus
Columbus
$1,295/mo
Lincoln
Winner$1,086/mo
Typical rent runs $1,086 a month in Lincoln versus $1,295 in Columbus, so Lincoln is 16% 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 $2,508, 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 Columbus.
Planning to buy in Lincoln? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
9% higher
Lincoln's median income is 9% higher than Columbus
Columbus
$66,082
Lincoln
Winner$71,867
Median household income is $71,867 in Lincoln versus $66,082 in Columbus, so typical pay runs 9% higher in Lincoln (about $5,785 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
24% lower crime
Lincoln's crime index is 24% lower than Columbus
Columbus
164 (100 = avg)
Lincoln
Winner124 (100 = avg)
Lincoln's crime index is 124 versus 164 in Columbus (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 24% 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. Columbus 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 Columbus
Columbus
53°F avg · 60°F highs · comfort 66/100
Lincoln
Winner55°F avg · 64°F highs · comfort 72/100
Columbus averages about 53°F (60°F highs); Lincoln averages about 55°F (64°F highs). Columbus 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 Columbus 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 Columbus
On these five categories Lincoln takes the scoreboard, so you should not choose Columbus because the stats are kinder. They are not. Choose Columbus 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 plus year-round outdoor access
Lincoln is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 16% 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.
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 9% 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 24% lower than Columbus (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
Housing separates these metros first: $1,086/month in Lincoln versus $1,295 in Columbus. Median income reads $71,867 in Lincoln and $66,082 in Columbus, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
Safety still diverges (53/100 in Lincoln vs 45/100 in Columbus), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $71,867 in Lincoln versus $66,082 in Columbus.
Pick Lincoln when shaving $209 off rent at $1,086/month is the priority. Otherwise, Columbus's case rests on $1,295/month rent with $66,082 local income.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Columbus and Lincoln, plus other cities in OH and NE.
