City comparison
Yes. Lincoln's crime index is 124 versus 189 in Lubbock, and its violent crime index is 114 versus 221, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Lincoln is cheaper. Median rent is $1,086 a month versus $1,182 in Lubbock.
Safety is where Lincoln and Lubbock split most clearly. Lincoln scores 65 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 $1,182 in Lubbock.
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. Lubbock 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 Lubbock has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Lincoln and Lubbock are 575 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,086 a month in Lincoln to $1,182 a month in Lubbock, up $96 a month (9%).
Median household income goes from $71,867 in Lincoln to $60,895 in Lubbock, down $10,972 (15%).
The crime index goes from 124 in Lincoln to 189 in Lubbock, up 65 points (52%).
The move
Lubbock and Lincoln are 575 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,182 a month in Lubbock to $1,086 a month in Lincoln, down $96 a month (8%).
Median household income goes from $60,895 in Lubbock to $71,867 in Lincoln, up $10,972 (18%).
The crime index goes from 189 in Lubbock to 124 in Lincoln, down 65 points (34%).
Lincoln, NE
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Lubbock, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Lincoln and Lubbock? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
8% cheaper
Lincoln rent is 8% cheaper than Lubbock
Lincoln
Winner$1,086/mo
Lubbock
$1,182/mo
Typical rent runs $1,086 a month in Lincoln versus $1,182 in Lubbock, so Lincoln is 8% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $96, or $1,152 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
18% higher
Lincoln's median income is 18% higher than Lubbock
Lincoln
Winner$71,867
Lubbock
$60,895
Median household income is $71,867 in Lincoln versus $60,895 in Lubbock, so typical pay runs 18% higher in Lincoln (about $10,972 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. Lubbock can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
34% lower crime
Lincoln's crime index is 34% lower than Lubbock
Lincoln
Winner124 (100 = avg)
Lubbock
189 (100 = avg)
Lincoln's crime index is 124 versus 189 in Lubbock (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 34% 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. Lubbock can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
28% more comfortable
Lubbock weather is 28% more comfortable than Lincoln
Lincoln
55°F avg · 64°F highs · comfort 72/100
Lubbock
Winner62°F avg · 70°F highs · comfort 92/100
Lincoln averages about 55°F (64°F highs); Lubbock averages about 62°F (70°F highs). Lincoln averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Lubbock averages around 62°F. Lubbock scores 28% 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 and professional growth
Lincoln is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 8% 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 18% 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 34% lower than Lubbock (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
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Pick Lubbock if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (62°F) beat Lincoln on this page's weather index by 28%. Lincoln may pay more or cost less, but Lubbock is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Bottom line
Safety is the widest gap: Lincoln scores 53/100 versus 41/100 in Lubbock. Rent is $1,086/month in Lincoln and $1,182/month in Lubbock, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Safety still diverges (53/100 in Lincoln vs 41/100 in Lubbock), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $71,867 in Lincoln versus $60,895 in Lubbock.
Lincoln is ahead on safety (53/100 vs 41/100); Lubbock is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,182/month rent plus $60,895 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
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