City comparison
Yes. Lincoln's crime index is 124 versus 221 in Toledo, and its violent crime index is 114 versus 279, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Toledo is cheaper. Median rent is $934 a month versus $1,086 in Lincoln.
Safety is where Lincoln and Toledo 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 $934 in Toledo.
Lincoln is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Toledo 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 Toledo has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Lincoln and Toledo are 683 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,086 a month in Lincoln to $934 a month in Toledo, down $152 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $71,867 in Lincoln to $62,224 in Toledo, down $9,643 (13%).
The crime index goes from 124 in Lincoln to 221 in Toledo, up 97 points (78%).
The move
Toledo and Lincoln are 683 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $934 a month in Toledo to $1,086 a month in Lincoln, up $152 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $62,224 in Toledo to $71,867 in Lincoln, up $9,643 (15%).
The crime index goes from 221 in Toledo to 124 in Lincoln, down 97 points (44%).
Lincoln, NE
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Toledo, OH
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Lincoln and Toledo? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
14% cheaper
Toledo rent is 14% cheaper than Lincoln
Lincoln
$1,086/mo
Toledo
Winner$934/mo
Typical rent runs $934 a month in Toledo versus $1,086 in Lincoln, so Toledo is 14% 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. Toledo still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Lincoln.
Planning to buy in Lincoln? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
15% higher
Lincoln's median income is 15% higher than Toledo
Lincoln
Winner$71,867
Toledo
$62,224
Median household income is $71,867 in Lincoln versus $62,224 in Toledo, so typical pay runs 15% higher in Lincoln (about $9,643 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. Toledo 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 Toledo
Lincoln
Winner124 (100 = avg)
Toledo
221 (100 = avg)
Lincoln's crime index is 124 versus 221 in Toledo (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. Toledo can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
18% more comfortable
Lincoln weather is 18% more comfortable than Toledo
Lincoln
Winner55°F avg · 64°F highs · comfort 72/100
Toledo
51°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 61/100
Lincoln averages about 55°F (64°F highs); Toledo averages about 51°F (58°F highs). Lincoln averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Toledo averages around 51°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Lincoln scores 18% 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 Toledo 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 15% 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 Toledo (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 Toledo
Toledo is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 14% cheaper here at about $934 a month. Choose Toledo if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Lincoln leads on safety (53/100 vs 36/100 in Toledo). Typical rent is $1,086 in Lincoln and $934 in Toledo; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
With only $152 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Median income is $71,867 in Lincoln versus $62,224 in Toledo.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Lincoln; Toledo only makes sense when you have walked the Toledo ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $934 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Lincoln and Toledo, plus other cities in NE and OH.
