City comparison
Yes. Irvine's crime index is 51 versus 124 in Lincoln, and its violent crime index is 24 versus 114, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Lincoln is cheaper. Median rent is $1,086 a month versus $2,997 in Irvine.
The income gap between Irvine and Lincoln is significant: $136,719 median household versus $71,867. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $2,997 in Irvine and $1,086 in Lincoln.
Irvine is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, 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 Irvine 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
Irvine and Lincoln are 1,260 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,997 a month in Irvine to $1,086 a month in Lincoln, down $1,911 a month (64%).
Median household income goes from $136,719 in Irvine to $71,867 in Lincoln, down $64,852 (47%).
The crime index goes from 51 in Irvine to 124 in Lincoln, up 73 points (143%).
The move
Lincoln and Irvine are 1,260 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,086 a month in Lincoln to $2,997 a month in Irvine, up $1,911 a month (176%).
Median household income goes from $71,867 in Lincoln to $136,719 in Irvine, up $64,852 (90%).
The crime index goes from 124 in Lincoln to 51 in Irvine, down 73 points (59%).
Irvine, CA
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 Irvine and Lincoln? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
64% cheaper
Lincoln rent is 64% cheaper than Irvine
Irvine
$2,997/mo
Lincoln
Winner$1,086/mo
Typical rent runs $1,086 a month in Lincoln versus $2,997 in Irvine, so Lincoln is 64% cheaper. That's roughly $1,911/month back in your pocket ($22,932/year). Over five years that's $114,660 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 Irvine, 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 Irvine? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
90% higher
Irvine's median income is 90% higher than Lincoln
Irvine
Winner$136,719
Lincoln
$71,867
Median household income is $136,719 in Irvine versus $71,867 in Lincoln, so typical pay runs 90% higher in Irvine (about $64,852 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, Irvine 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
59% lower crime
Irvine's crime index is 59% lower than Lincoln
Irvine
Winner51 (100 = avg)
Lincoln
124 (100 = avg)
Irvine's crime index is 51 versus 124 in Lincoln (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 59% lower in Irvine. 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, Irvine 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
Irvine weather is 39% more comfortable than Lincoln
Irvine
Winner76°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Lincoln
55°F avg · 64°F highs · comfort 72/100
Irvine averages about 76°F (83°F highs); Lincoln averages about 55°F (64°F highs). Irvine sits near 76°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. Irvine 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 90% higher ($136,719), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 76°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Irvine is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 59% lower than Lincoln (51 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
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Lincoln
Lincoln is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 64% 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.
Bottom line
Housing separates these metros first: $1,086/month in Lincoln versus $2,997 in Irvine. Median income reads $71,867 in Lincoln and $136,719 in Irvine, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
Lincoln rent at $1,086/month is still below Irvine's $2,997, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $136,719 in Irvine versus $71,867 in Lincoln.
Lincoln clears the bar on housing cost in this dataset. Irvine deserves a serious look only when your $136,719 income offer in Irvine outweighs saving $1,911/month in Lincoln.
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