City comparison
No. Lincoln's crime index is 124 versus 266 in Milwaukee, and its violent crime index is 114 versus 375, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Milwaukee is cheaper. Median rent is $1,059 a month versus $1,086 in Lincoln.
Safety is where Milwaukee and Lincoln split most clearly. Lincoln scores 142 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,059 in Milwaukee and $1,086 in Lincoln.
This is a genuine split. Milwaukee wins on cost of living and Lincoln wins on the job market and safety. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The crime gap is citywide. Lincoln has rougher pockets and Milwaukee has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Milwaukee and Lincoln are 476 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,059 a month in Milwaukee to $1,086 a month in Lincoln, up $27 a month (3%).
Median household income goes from $54,234 in Milwaukee to $71,867 in Lincoln, up $17,633 (33%).
The crime index goes from 266 in Milwaukee to 124 in Lincoln, down 142 points (53%).
The move
Lincoln and Milwaukee are 476 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,086 a month in Lincoln to $1,059 a month in Milwaukee, down $27 a month (2%).
Median household income goes from $71,867 in Lincoln to $54,234 in Milwaukee, down $17,633 (25%).
The crime index goes from 124 in Lincoln to 266 in Milwaukee, up 142 points (115%).
Milwaukee, WI
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 Milwaukee and Lincoln? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
2% cheaper
Milwaukee rent is 2% cheaper than Lincoln
Milwaukee
Winner$1,059/mo
Lincoln
$1,086/mo
Typical rent runs $1,059 a month in Milwaukee versus $1,086 in Lincoln, so Milwaukee is 2% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $27, or $324 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
33% higher
Lincoln's median income is 33% higher than Milwaukee
Milwaukee
$54,234
Lincoln
Winner$71,867
Median household income is $71,867 in Lincoln versus $54,234 in Milwaukee, so typical pay runs 33% higher in Lincoln (about $17,633 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. Milwaukee can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
53% lower crime
Lincoln's crime index is 53% lower than Milwaukee
Milwaukee
266 (100 = avg)
Lincoln
Winner124 (100 = avg)
Lincoln's crime index is 124 versus 266 in Milwaukee (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 53% 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. Milwaukee can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Milwaukee and Lincoln are about even on typical weather.
Milwaukee
55°F avg · 61°F highs · comfort 72/100
Lincoln
55°F avg · 64°F highs · comfort 72/100
Milwaukee averages about 55°F (61°F highs); Lincoln averages about 55°F (64°F highs). Milwaukee averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Lincoln averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Milwaukee
Milwaukee is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 2% cheaper here at about $1,059 a month. Choose Milwaukee if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Lincoln is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 33% 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 53% lower than Milwaukee (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
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Lincoln leads on safety (53/100 vs 30/100 in Milwaukee). Typical rent is $1,086 in Lincoln and $1,059 in Milwaukee; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Milwaukee rent at $1,059/month is still below Lincoln's $1,086, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,059 in Milwaukee and $1,086 in Lincoln.
Lincoln is ahead on safety (53/100 vs 30/100); Milwaukee is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,059/month rent plus $54,234 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Milwaukee and Lincoln, plus other cities in WI and NE.
