City comparison
No. Lincoln's crime index is 124 versus 343 in Kansas City, and its violent crime index is 114 versus 423, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Lincoln is cheaper. Median rent is $1,086 a month versus $1,238 in Kansas City.
Safety is where Kansas City and Lincoln split most clearly. Lincoln scores 219 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,238 in Kansas City 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. Kansas City 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 Kansas City has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Kansas City and Lincoln are 161 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,238 a month in Kansas City to $1,086 a month in Lincoln, down $152 a month (12%).
Median household income goes from $69,166 in Kansas City to $71,867 in Lincoln, up $2,701 (4%).
The crime index goes from 343 in Kansas City to 124 in Lincoln, down 219 points (64%).
The move
Lincoln and Kansas City are 161 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,086 a month in Lincoln to $1,238 a month in Kansas City, up $152 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $71,867 in Lincoln to $69,166 in Kansas City, down $2,701 (4%).
The crime index goes from 124 in Lincoln to 343 in Kansas City, up 219 points (177%).
Kansas City, MO
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 Kansas City and Lincoln? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
12% cheaper
Lincoln rent is 12% cheaper than Kansas City
Kansas City
$1,238/mo
Lincoln
Winner$1,086/mo
Typical rent runs $1,086 a month in Lincoln versus $1,238 in Kansas City, so Lincoln is 12% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $1,824, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Lincoln still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Kansas City.
Planning to buy in Lincoln? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
4% higher
Lincoln's median income is 4% higher than Kansas City
Kansas City
$69,166
Lincoln
Winner$71,867
Median household income is $71,867 in Lincoln versus $69,166 in Kansas City, so typical pay runs 4% higher in Lincoln (about $2,701 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
64% lower crime
Lincoln's crime index is 64% lower than Kansas City
Kansas City
343 (100 = avg)
Lincoln
Winner124 (100 = avg)
Lincoln's crime index is 124 versus 343 in Kansas City (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 64% 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. Kansas City can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
11% more comfortable
Kansas City weather is 11% more comfortable than Lincoln
Kansas City
Winner58°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 80/100
Lincoln
55°F avg · 64°F highs · comfort 72/100
Kansas City averages about 58°F (66°F highs); Lincoln averages about 55°F (64°F highs). Kansas City averages around 58°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. Kansas City scores 11% 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 Kansas City if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (58°F) beat Lincoln on this page's weather index by 11%. Lincoln may pay more or cost less, but Kansas City 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 12% 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 4% 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 64% lower than Kansas City (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
Crime and safety tilt toward Lincoln: Lincoln scores 53/100 versus 23/100 in Kansas City, with typical rent at $1,086 versus $1,238. I would vet the exact ZIP in Kansas City before trading 30 safety points for housing savings.
With only $152 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Weather averages land near 58°F in Kansas City and 55°F in Lincoln.
Lincoln clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Kansas City deserves a serious look only when you already know the Kansas City 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 Kansas City and Lincoln, plus other cities in MO and NE.
