City comparison
Yes. Lincoln's crime index is 124 versus 165 in St Petersburg, and its violent crime index is 114 versus 167, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Lincoln and 2023 FBI data for St Petersburg.
Lincoln is cheaper. Median rent is $1,086 a month versus $1,663 in St Petersburg.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Lincoln and St Petersburg. Lincoln averages 55°F while St Petersburg averages 77°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,086 versus $1,663.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Lincoln costs less and St Petersburg pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
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 St Petersburg are 1,192 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,086 a month in Lincoln to $1,663 a month in St Petersburg, up $577 a month (53%).
Median household income goes from $71,867 in Lincoln to $75,192 in St Petersburg, up $3,325 (5%).
The crime index goes from 124 in Lincoln to 165 in St Petersburg, up 41 points (33%).
The move
St Petersburg and Lincoln are 1,192 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,663 a month in St Petersburg to $1,086 a month in Lincoln, down $577 a month (35%).
Median household income goes from $75,192 in St Petersburg to $71,867 in Lincoln, down $3,325 (4%).
The crime index goes from 165 in St Petersburg to 124 in Lincoln, down 41 points (25%).
Lincoln, NE
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
St Petersburg, FL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Lincoln and St Petersburg? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
35% cheaper
Lincoln rent is 35% cheaper than St Petersburg
Lincoln
Winner$1,086/mo
St Petersburg
$1,663/mo
Typical rent runs $1,086 a month in Lincoln versus $1,663 in St Petersburg, so Lincoln is 35% cheaper. That's roughly $577/month back in your pocket ($6,924/year). Over five years that's $34,620 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 St Petersburg, 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
5% higher
St Petersburg's median income is 5% higher than Lincoln
Lincoln
$71,867
St Petersburg
Winner$75,192
Median household income is $75,192 in St Petersburg versus $71,867 in Lincoln, so typical pay runs 5% higher in St Petersburg (about $3,325 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
25% lower crime
Lincoln's crime index is 25% lower than St Petersburg
Lincoln
Winner124 (100 = avg)
St Petersburg
165 (100 = avg)
Lincoln's crime index is 124 versus 165 in St Petersburg (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 25% 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. St Petersburg can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
39% more comfortable
St Petersburg weather is 39% more comfortable than Lincoln
Lincoln
55°F avg · 64°F highs · comfort 72/100
St Petersburg
Winner77°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Lincoln averages about 55°F (64°F highs); St Petersburg averages about 77°F (82°F highs). Lincoln averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. St Petersburg sits near 77°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. St Petersburg 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
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Lincoln is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 35% 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 fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 25% lower than St Petersburg (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
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 5% higher ($75,192), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 77°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Bottom line
Housing separates these metros first: $1,086/month in Lincoln versus $1,663 in St Petersburg. Median income reads $71,867 in Lincoln and $75,192 in St Petersburg, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
Safety still diverges (53/100 in Lincoln vs 45/100 in St Petersburg), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Safety scores read 53/100 in Lincoln and 45/100 in St Petersburg.
Lincoln clears the bar on housing cost in this dataset. St Petersburg deserves a serious look only when your $75,192 income offer in St Petersburg outweighs saving $577/month in Lincoln.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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