City comparison
Yes. Lincoln's crime index is 124 versus 221 in Buffalo, and its violent crime index is 114 versus 216, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Buffalo is cheaper. Median rent is $1,046 a month versus $1,086 in Lincoln.
Safety is where Lincoln and Buffalo split most clearly. Lincoln scores 97 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,086 in Lincoln and $1,046 in Buffalo.
Lincoln is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Buffalo 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 Buffalo has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Lincoln and Buffalo are 925 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,086 a month in Lincoln to $1,046 a month in Buffalo, down $40 a month (4%).
Median household income goes from $71,867 in Lincoln to $50,041 in Buffalo, down $21,826 (30%).
The crime index goes from 124 in Lincoln to 221 in Buffalo, up 97 points (78%).
The move
Buffalo and Lincoln are 925 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,046 a month in Buffalo to $1,086 a month in Lincoln, up $40 a month (4%).
Median household income goes from $50,041 in Buffalo to $71,867 in Lincoln, up $21,826 (44%).
The crime index goes from 221 in Buffalo to 124 in Lincoln, down 97 points (44%).
Lincoln, NE
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Buffalo, NY
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Lincoln and Buffalo? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
4% cheaper
Buffalo rent is 4% cheaper than Lincoln
Lincoln
$1,086/mo
Buffalo
Winner$1,046/mo
Typical rent runs $1,046 a month in Buffalo versus $1,086 in Lincoln, so Buffalo is 4% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $40, or $480 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
44% higher
Lincoln's median income is 44% higher than Buffalo
Lincoln
Winner$71,867
Buffalo
$50,041
Median household income is $71,867 in Lincoln versus $50,041 in Buffalo, so typical pay runs 44% higher in Lincoln (about $21,826 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. Buffalo can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
44% lower crime
Lincoln's crime index is 44% lower than Buffalo
Lincoln
Winner124 (100 = avg)
Buffalo
221 (100 = avg)
Lincoln's crime index is 124 versus 221 in Buffalo (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 44% 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. Buffalo can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
31% more comfortable
Lincoln weather is 31% more comfortable than Buffalo
Lincoln
Winner55°F avg · 64°F highs · comfort 72/100
Buffalo
49°F avg · 55°F highs · comfort 55/100
Lincoln averages about 55°F (64°F highs); Buffalo averages about 49°F (55°F highs). Lincoln averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Buffalo averages around 49°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Lincoln scores 31% 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 Buffalo 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 44% higher ($71,867), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 55°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Lincoln is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 44% lower than Buffalo (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.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Buffalo
Buffalo is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 4% cheaper here at about $1,046 a month. Choose Buffalo if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Safety is the widest gap: Lincoln scores 53/100 versus 36/100 in Buffalo. Rent is $1,086/month in Lincoln and $1,046/month in Buffalo, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Buffalo rent at $1,046/month is still below Lincoln's $1,086, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 55°F in Lincoln and 49°F in Buffalo.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Lincoln; Buffalo only makes sense when you have walked the Buffalo ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,046 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Lincoln and Buffalo, plus other cities in NE and NY.
