City comparison
Lincoln is safer than Nashville. Lincoln's crime index is 124 versus 282 in Nashville, and its violent crime index is 114 versus 309, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Lincoln is cheaper. Median rent is $1,086 a month versus $1,586 in Nashville.
Safety is where Nashville and Lincoln split most clearly. Lincoln scores 158 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,586 in Nashville and $1,086 in Lincoln.
Lincoln is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Nashville 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
Nashville and Lincoln are 622 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,586 a month in Nashville to $1,086 a month in Lincoln, down $500 a month (32%).
Median household income goes from $77,371 in Nashville to $71,867 in Lincoln, down $5,504 (7%).
The crime index goes from 282 in Nashville to 124 in Lincoln, down 158 points (56%).
The move
Lincoln and Nashville are 622 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,086 a month in Lincoln to $1,586 a month in Nashville, up $500 a month (46%).
Median household income goes from $71,867 in Lincoln to $77,371 in Nashville, up $5,504 (8%).
The crime index goes from 124 in Lincoln to 282 in Nashville, up 158 points (127%).
Nashville, 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 Nashville and Lincoln? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
32% cheaper
Lincoln rent is 32% cheaper than Nashville
Nashville
$1,586/mo
Lincoln
Winner$1,086/mo
Typical rent runs $1,086 a month in Lincoln versus $1,586 in Nashville, so Lincoln is 32% cheaper. That's roughly $500/month back in your pocket ($6,000/year). Over five years that's $30,000 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 Nashville, 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
8% higher
Nashville's median income is 8% higher than Lincoln
Nashville
Winner$77,371
Lincoln
$71,867
Median household income is $77,371 in Nashville versus $71,867 in Lincoln, so typical pay runs 8% higher in Nashville (about $5,504 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
56% lower crime
Lincoln's crime index is 56% lower than Nashville
Nashville
282 (100 = avg)
Lincoln
Winner124 (100 = avg)
Lincoln's crime index is 124 versus 282 in Nashville (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 56% 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. Nashville can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
7% more comfortable
Lincoln weather is 7% more comfortable than Nashville
Nashville
59°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 83/100
Lincoln
Winner61°F avg · 70°F highs · comfort 89/100
Nashville averages about 59°F (69°F highs); Lincoln averages about 61°F (70°F highs). Nashville averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Lincoln averages around 61°F. Lincoln scores 7% 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 Nashville 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
Nashville is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 8% higher here ($77,371). Start with Nashville if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Lincoln is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 32% 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.
Pick Lincoln if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (61°F) beat Nashville on this page's weather index by 7%. Nashville may pay more or cost less, but Lincoln is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Lincoln is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 56% lower than Nashville (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 28/100 in Nashville). Typical rent is $1,086 in Lincoln and $1,586 in Nashville; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Nashville still pays more locally ($77,371 median income vs $71,867), which can offset the lease if your field pays Nashville rates.
Median income is $77,371 in Nashville versus $71,867 in Lincoln.
Between Nashville and Lincoln, Lincoln is ahead on safety — 53/100 safety versus 28/100. Lean Nashville instead when you already know the Nashville block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Nashville and Lincoln, plus other cities in TN and NE.
