City comparison
Yes. El Paso's crime index is 87 versus 124 in Lincoln, and its violent crime index is 88 versus 114, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
El Paso is cheaper. Median rent is $1,073 a month versus $1,086 in Lincoln.
Climate is the sharpest divide between El Paso and Lincoln. El Paso averages 66°F while Lincoln averages 55°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,073 versus $1,086.
El Paso is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Lincoln makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone El Paso is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. El Paso has rougher pockets and Lincoln has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
El Paso and Lincoln are 829 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,073 a month in El Paso to $1,086 a month in Lincoln, up $13 a month (1%).
Median household income goes from $59,745 in El Paso to $71,867 in Lincoln, up $12,122 (20%).
The crime index goes from 87 in El Paso to 124 in Lincoln, up 37 points (43%).
The move
Lincoln and El Paso are 829 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,086 a month in Lincoln to $1,073 a month in El Paso, down $13 a month (1%).
Median household income goes from $71,867 in Lincoln to $59,745 in El Paso, down $12,122 (17%).
The crime index goes from 124 in Lincoln to 87 in El Paso, down 37 points (30%).
El Paso, TX
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 El Paso and Lincoln? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
1% cheaper
El Paso rent is 1% cheaper than Lincoln
El Paso
Winner$1,073/mo
Lincoln
$1,086/mo
Typical rent runs $1,073 a month in El Paso versus $1,086 in Lincoln, so El Paso is 1% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $13, or $156 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 El Paso? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
20% higher
Lincoln's median income is 20% higher than El Paso
El Paso
$59,745
Lincoln
Winner$71,867
Median household income is $71,867 in Lincoln versus $59,745 in El Paso, so typical pay runs 20% higher in Lincoln (about $12,122 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. El Paso can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
30% lower crime
El Paso's crime index is 30% lower than Lincoln
El Paso
Winner87 (100 = avg)
Lincoln
124 (100 = avg)
El Paso's crime index is 87 versus 124 in Lincoln (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 30% lower in El Paso. 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, El Paso is the easier city. Lincoln can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
39% more comfortable
El Paso weather is 39% more comfortable than Lincoln
El Paso
Winner66°F avg · 72°F highs · comfort 100/100
Lincoln
55°F avg · 64°F highs · comfort 72/100
El Paso averages about 66°F (72°F highs); Lincoln averages about 55°F (64°F highs). El Paso sits near 66°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Lincoln averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. El Paso scores 39% 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
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
El Paso is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 1% cheaper here at about $1,073 a month. Choose El Paso if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick El Paso if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (66°F) beat Lincoln on this page's weather index by 39%. Lincoln may pay more or cost less, but El Paso is the city where the forecast fights you less.
El Paso is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 30% lower than Lincoln (87 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.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Lincoln is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 20% higher here ($71,867). Start with Lincoln if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Bottom line
Crime and safety tilt toward El Paso: El Paso scores 64/100 versus 53/100 in Lincoln, with matched rent near $1,073/month. I would vet the exact ZIP in Lincoln before trading 11 safety points for an identical lease.
Median income is $71,867 in Lincoln versus $59,745 in El Paso — with rent matched, the paycheck gap matters more.
El Paso clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Lincoln deserves a serious look only when you already know the Lincoln block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Weather averages land near 66°F in El Paso and 55°F in Lincoln.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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