City comparison
Yes. Lincoln's crime index is 124 versus 169 in Richmond, and its violent crime index is 114 versus 122, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Lincoln is cheaper. Median rent is $1,086 a month versus $1,372 in Richmond.
Safety is where Lincoln and Richmond split most clearly. Lincoln scores 45 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 $1,372 in Richmond.
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. Richmond 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
Lincoln and Richmond are 1,051 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,086 a month in Lincoln to $1,372 a month in Richmond, up $286 a month (26%).
Median household income goes from $71,867 in Lincoln to $64,587 in Richmond, down $7,280 (10%).
The crime index goes from 124 in Lincoln to 169 in Richmond, up 45 points (36%).
The move
Richmond and Lincoln are 1,051 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,372 a month in Richmond to $1,086 a month in Lincoln, down $286 a month (21%).
Median household income goes from $64,587 in Richmond to $71,867 in Lincoln, up $7,280 (11%).
The crime index goes from 169 in Richmond to 124 in Lincoln, down 45 points (27%).
Lincoln, NE
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Richmond, VA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Lincoln and Richmond? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
21% cheaper
Lincoln rent is 21% cheaper than Richmond
Lincoln
Winner$1,086/mo
Richmond
$1,372/mo
Typical rent runs $1,086 a month in Lincoln versus $1,372 in Richmond, so Lincoln is 21% cheaper. That's roughly $286/month back in your pocket ($3,432/year). Over five years that's $17,160 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 Richmond, 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
11% higher
Lincoln's median income is 11% higher than Richmond
Lincoln
Winner$71,867
Richmond
$64,587
Median household income is $71,867 in Lincoln versus $64,587 in Richmond, so typical pay runs 11% higher in Lincoln (about $7,280 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. Richmond can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
27% lower crime
Lincoln's crime index is 27% lower than Richmond
Lincoln
Winner124 (100 = avg)
Richmond
169 (100 = avg)
Lincoln's crime index is 124 versus 169 in Richmond (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 27% 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. Richmond can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
8% more comfortable
Richmond weather is 8% more comfortable than Lincoln
Lincoln
55°F avg · 64°F highs · comfort 72/100
Richmond
Winner57°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 78/100
Lincoln averages about 55°F (64°F highs); Richmond averages about 57°F (66°F highs). Lincoln averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Richmond averages around 57°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Richmond scores 8% 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 21% 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 11% 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 27% lower than Richmond (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 Richmond if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (57°F) beat Lincoln on this page's weather index by 8%. Lincoln may pay more or cost less, but Richmond is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Bottom line
Housing separates these metros first: $1,086/month in Lincoln versus $1,372 in Richmond. Median income reads $71,867 in Lincoln and $64,587 in Richmond, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
Safety still diverges (53/100 in Lincoln vs 44/100 in Richmond), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $71,867 in Lincoln versus $64,587 in Richmond.
If housing cost drives your move, Lincoln is the stronger match ($1,086/month rent against $1,372). If an employer or family tie already points to Richmond, treat $1,372/month rent and $64,587 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
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