City comparison
No. Lincoln's crime index is 124 versus 135 in Fort Worth, and its violent crime index is 114 versus 121, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Lincoln is cheaper. Median rent is $1,086 a month versus $1,509 in Fort Worth.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Fort Worth and Lincoln. Fort Worth 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 $1,509 versus $1,086.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Lincoln costs less and Fort Worth 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
Fort Worth and Lincoln are 559 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,509 a month in Fort Worth to $1,086 a month in Lincoln, down $423 a month (28%).
Median household income goes from $79,507 in Fort Worth to $71,867 in Lincoln, down $7,640 (10%).
The crime index goes from 135 in Fort Worth to 124 in Lincoln, down 11 points (8%).
The move
Lincoln and Fort Worth are 559 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,086 a month in Lincoln to $1,509 a month in Fort Worth, up $423 a month (39%).
Median household income goes from $71,867 in Lincoln to $79,507 in Fort Worth, up $7,640 (11%).
The crime index goes from 124 in Lincoln to 135 in Fort Worth, up 11 points (9%).
Fort Worth, 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 Fort Worth and Lincoln? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
28% cheaper
Lincoln rent is 28% cheaper than Fort Worth
Fort Worth
$1,509/mo
Lincoln
Winner$1,086/mo
Typical rent runs $1,086 a month in Lincoln versus $1,509 in Fort Worth, so Lincoln is 28% cheaper. That's roughly $423/month back in your pocket ($5,076/year). Over five years that's $25,380 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 Fort Worth, 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
11% higher
Fort Worth's median income is 11% higher than Lincoln
Fort Worth
Winner$79,507
Lincoln
$71,867
Median household income is $79,507 in Fort Worth versus $71,867 in Lincoln, so typical pay runs 11% higher in Fort Worth (about $7,640 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, Fort Worth 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
8% lower crime
Lincoln's crime index is 8% lower than Fort Worth
Fort Worth
135 (100 = avg)
Lincoln
Winner124 (100 = avg)
Lincoln's crime index is 124 versus 135 in Fort Worth (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 8% lower in Lincoln. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Lincoln, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Fort Worth. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
39% more comfortable
Fort Worth weather is 39% more comfortable than Lincoln
Fort Worth
Winner66°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Lincoln
55°F avg · 64°F highs · comfort 72/100
Fort Worth averages about 66°F (73°F highs); Lincoln averages about 55°F (64°F highs). Fort Worth 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. Fort Worth 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
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 ($79,507), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 66°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 8% lower than Fort Worth (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
Fort Worth runs $1,509/month while Lincoln sits at $1,086 — roughly 28% lower on typical leases. Unless your offer letter is Fort Worth-sized, that monthly gap compounds fast.
Lincoln rent at $1,086/month is still below Fort Worth's $1,509, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $79,507 in Fort Worth versus $71,867 in Lincoln.
Most movers who prioritize housing cost land in Lincoln; Fort Worth only makes sense when your offer letter is already written for Fort Worth at $79,507 income.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Fort Worth and Lincoln, plus other cities in TX and NE.
