City comparison
No. Lincoln's crime index is 124 versus 495 in Memphis, and its violent crime index is 114 versus 629, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Lincoln is cheaper. Median rent is $1,086 a month versus $1,181 in Memphis.
Safety is where Memphis and Lincoln split most clearly. Lincoln scores 371 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,181 in Memphis and $1,086 in Lincoln.
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. Memphis 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 Memphis has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Memphis and Lincoln are 531 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,181 a month in Memphis to $1,086 a month in Lincoln, down $95 a month (8%).
Median household income goes from $51,736 in Memphis to $71,867 in Lincoln, up $20,131 (39%).
The crime index goes from 495 in Memphis to 124 in Lincoln, down 371 points (75%).
The move
Lincoln and Memphis are 531 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,086 a month in Lincoln to $1,181 a month in Memphis, up $95 a month (9%).
Median household income goes from $71,867 in Lincoln to $51,736 in Memphis, down $20,131 (28%).
The crime index goes from 124 in Lincoln to 495 in Memphis, up 371 points (299%).
Memphis, TN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Lincoln, NE
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Memphis and Lincoln? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
8% cheaper
Lincoln rent is 8% cheaper than Memphis
Memphis
$1,181/mo
Lincoln
Winner$1,086/mo
Typical rent runs $1,086 a month in Lincoln versus $1,181 in Memphis, so Lincoln is 8% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $95, or $1,140 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
39% higher
Lincoln's median income is 39% higher than Memphis
Memphis
$51,736
Lincoln
Winner$71,867
Median household income is $71,867 in Lincoln versus $51,736 in Memphis, so typical pay runs 39% higher in Lincoln (about $20,131 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. Memphis can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
75% lower crime
Lincoln's crime index is 75% lower than Memphis
Memphis
495 (100 = avg)
Lincoln
Winner124 (100 = avg)
Lincoln's crime index is 124 versus 495 in Memphis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 75% 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. Memphis can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
39% more comfortable
Memphis weather is 39% more comfortable than Lincoln
Memphis
Winner68°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Lincoln
55°F avg · 64°F highs · comfort 72/100
Memphis averages about 68°F (78°F highs); Lincoln averages about 55°F (64°F highs). Memphis sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Lincoln averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Memphis 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
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Pick Memphis if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (68°F) beat Lincoln on this page's weather index by 39%. Lincoln may pay more or cost less, but Memphis is the city where the forecast fights you less.
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 39% 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 75% lower than Memphis (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.
Bottom line
Memphis carries the heavier crime signal on this page (11/100 safety vs 53/100 in Lincoln). That 42-point spread matters more than the $95 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Safety still diverges (53/100 in Lincoln vs 11/100 in Memphis), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Weather averages land near 68°F in Memphis and 55°F in Lincoln.
If safety drives your move, Lincoln is the stronger match (53/100 safety versus 11/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Memphis, treat $1,181/month rent and $51,736 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Memphis and Lincoln, plus other cities in TN and NE.
