City comparison
No. Lincoln's crime index is 124 versus 214 in Greensboro, and its violent crime index is 114 versus 235, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Lincoln is cheaper. Median rent is $1,086 a month versus $1,172 in Greensboro.
Safety is where Greensboro and Lincoln split most clearly. Lincoln scores 90 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,172 in Greensboro and $1,086 in Lincoln.
Lincoln is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, and safety by margins that add up in daily life. Greensboro 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 crime gap is citywide. Lincoln has rougher pockets and Greensboro has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Greensboro and Lincoln are 968 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,172 a month in Greensboro to $1,086 a month in Lincoln, down $86 a month (7%).
Median household income goes from $61,515 in Greensboro to $71,867 in Lincoln, up $10,352 (17%).
The crime index goes from 214 in Greensboro to 124 in Lincoln, down 90 points (42%).
The move
Lincoln and Greensboro are 968 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,086 a month in Lincoln to $1,172 a month in Greensboro, up $86 a month (8%).
Median household income goes from $71,867 in Lincoln to $61,515 in Greensboro, down $10,352 (14%).
The crime index goes from 124 in Lincoln to 214 in Greensboro, up 90 points (73%).
Greensboro, 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 Greensboro and Lincoln? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
7% cheaper
Lincoln rent is 7% cheaper than Greensboro
Greensboro
$1,172/mo
Lincoln
Winner$1,086/mo
Typical rent runs $1,086 a month in Lincoln versus $1,172 in Greensboro, so Lincoln is 7% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $86, or $1,032 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 Lincoln? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
17% higher
Lincoln's median income is 17% higher than Greensboro
Greensboro
$61,515
Lincoln
Winner$71,867
Median household income is $71,867 in Lincoln versus $61,515 in Greensboro, so typical pay runs 17% higher in Lincoln (about $10,352 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. Greensboro can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
42% lower crime
Lincoln's crime index is 42% lower than Greensboro
Greensboro
214 (100 = avg)
Lincoln
Winner124 (100 = avg)
Lincoln's crime index is 124 versus 214 in Greensboro (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 42% 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. Greensboro can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
4% more comfortable
Greensboro weather is 4% more comfortable than Lincoln
Greensboro
Winner56°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 75/100
Lincoln
55°F avg · 64°F highs · comfort 72/100
Greensboro averages about 56°F (67°F highs); Lincoln averages about 55°F (64°F highs). Greensboro averages around 56°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. Greensboro scores 4% 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
Pick Greensboro if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (56°F) beat Lincoln on this page's weather index by 4%. Lincoln may pay more or cost less, but Greensboro is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Lincoln is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 7% 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 city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 17% higher here ($71,867). Start with Lincoln if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Lincoln is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 42% lower than Greensboro (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
Greensboro carries the heavier crime signal on this page (37/100 safety vs 53/100 in Lincoln). That 16-point spread matters more than the $86 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
With only $86 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Typical rent stays $1,086 in Lincoln and $1,172 in Greensboro.
Lincoln clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Greensboro deserves a serious look only when you already know the Greensboro 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 Greensboro and Lincoln, plus other cities in NC and NE.
