City comparison
No. Lincoln's crime index is 124 versus 193 in Durham, and its violent crime index is 114 versus 163, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Lincoln is cheaper. Median rent is $1,086 a month versus $1,508 in Durham.
Safety is where Durham and Lincoln split most clearly. Lincoln scores 69 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,508 in Durham and $1,086 in Lincoln.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Lincoln costs less and Durham pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
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
Durham and Lincoln are 1,016 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,508 a month in Durham to $1,086 a month in Lincoln, down $422 a month (28%).
Median household income goes from $81,619 in Durham to $71,867 in Lincoln, down $9,752 (12%).
The crime index goes from 193 in Durham to 124 in Lincoln, down 69 points (36%).
The move
Lincoln and Durham are 1,016 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,086 a month in Lincoln to $1,508 a month in Durham, up $422 a month (39%).
Median household income goes from $71,867 in Lincoln to $81,619 in Durham, up $9,752 (14%).
The crime index goes from 124 in Lincoln to 193 in Durham, up 69 points (56%).
Durham, NC
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 Durham and Lincoln? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
28% cheaper
Lincoln rent is 28% cheaper than Durham
Durham
$1,508/mo
Lincoln
Winner$1,086/mo
Typical rent runs $1,086 a month in Lincoln versus $1,508 in Durham, so Lincoln is 28% cheaper. That's roughly $422/month back in your pocket ($5,064/year). Over five years that's $25,320 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 Durham, 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
14% higher
Durham's median income is 14% higher than Lincoln
Durham
Winner$81,619
Lincoln
$71,867
Median household income is $81,619 in Durham versus $71,867 in Lincoln, so typical pay runs 14% higher in Durham (about $9,752 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, Durham 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
36% lower crime
Lincoln's crime index is 36% lower than Durham
Durham
193 (100 = avg)
Lincoln
Winner124 (100 = avg)
Lincoln's crime index is 124 versus 193 in Durham (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 36% 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. Durham can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
15% more comfortable
Durham weather is 15% more comfortable than Lincoln
Durham
Winner59°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 83/100
Lincoln
55°F avg · 64°F highs · comfort 72/100
Durham averages about 59°F (68°F highs); Lincoln averages about 55°F (64°F highs). Durham averages around 59°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. Durham scores 15% 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 Lincoln if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
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 14% higher ($81,619), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 59°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
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 28% 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 36% lower than Durham (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
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Lincoln leads on safety (53/100 vs 40/100 in Durham). Typical rent is $1,086 in Lincoln and $1,508 in Durham; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Durham still pays more locally ($81,619 median income vs $71,867), which can offset the lease if your field pays Durham rates.
Median income is $81,619 in Durham versus $71,867 in Lincoln.
Between Durham and Lincoln, Lincoln is ahead on safety — 53/100 safety versus 40/100. Lean Durham instead when you already know the Durham block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Durham and Lincoln, plus other cities in NC and NE.
