City comparison
No. Lincoln's crime index is 124 versus 150 in Jacksonville, and its violent crime index is 114 versus 155, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Lincoln is cheaper. Median rent is $1,086 a month versus $1,465 in Jacksonville.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Jacksonville and Lincoln. Jacksonville averages 68°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 $1,465 versus $1,086.
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. Jacksonville 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 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
Jacksonville and Lincoln are 1,108 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,465 a month in Jacksonville to $1,086 a month in Lincoln, down $379 a month (26%).
Median household income goes from $69,872 in Jacksonville to $71,867 in Lincoln, up $1,995 (3%).
The crime index goes from 150 in Jacksonville to 124 in Lincoln, down 26 points (17%).
The move
Lincoln and Jacksonville are 1,108 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,086 a month in Lincoln to $1,465 a month in Jacksonville, up $379 a month (35%).
Median household income goes from $71,867 in Lincoln to $69,872 in Jacksonville, down $1,995 (3%).
The crime index goes from 124 in Lincoln to 150 in Jacksonville, up 26 points (21%).
Jacksonville, FL
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 Jacksonville and Lincoln? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
26% cheaper
Lincoln rent is 26% cheaper than Jacksonville
Jacksonville
$1,465/mo
Lincoln
Winner$1,086/mo
Typical rent runs $1,086 a month in Lincoln versus $1,465 in Jacksonville, so Lincoln is 26% cheaper. That's roughly $379/month back in your pocket ($4,548/year). Over five years that's $22,740 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 Jacksonville, 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
3% higher
Lincoln's median income is 3% higher than Jacksonville
Jacksonville
$69,872
Lincoln
Winner$71,867
Median household income is $71,867 in Lincoln versus $69,872 in Jacksonville, so typical pay runs 3% higher in Lincoln (about $1,995 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
17% lower crime
Lincoln's crime index is 17% lower than Jacksonville
Jacksonville
150 (100 = avg)
Lincoln
Winner124 (100 = avg)
Lincoln's crime index is 124 versus 150 in Jacksonville (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 17% 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. Jacksonville can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
39% more comfortable
Jacksonville weather is 39% more comfortable than Lincoln
Jacksonville
Winner68°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 100/100
Lincoln
55°F avg · 64°F highs · comfort 72/100
Jacksonville averages about 68°F (74°F highs); Lincoln averages about 55°F (64°F highs). Jacksonville sits near 68°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. Jacksonville 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
Pick Jacksonville if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (68°F) beat Lincoln on this page's weather index by 39%. Lincoln may pay more or cost less, but Jacksonville 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 26% 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 3% 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 17% lower than Jacksonville (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
Rent is the clearest fork: Lincoln at $1,086/month versus $1,465 in Jacksonville ($379 apart). Jacksonville median income is $69,872 against $71,867 in Lincoln, so the cheaper lease does not always pair with the stronger local wage base.
Safety scores read 48/100 in Jacksonville and 53/100 in Lincoln.
Lincoln clears the bar on housing cost in this dataset. Jacksonville deserves a serious look only when your $69,872 income offer in Jacksonville outweighs saving $379/month in Lincoln.
Weather averages land near 68°F in Jacksonville and 55°F in Lincoln.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Jacksonville and Lincoln, plus other cities in FL and NE.
