City comparison
No. Lincoln's crime index is 124 versus 350 in New Orleans, and its violent crime index is 114 versus 393, using 2023 FBI data for New Orleans and 2024-2025 FBI data for Lincoln.
Lincoln is cheaper. Median rent is $1,086 a month versus $1,251 in New Orleans.
Safety is where New Orleans and Lincoln split most clearly. Lincoln scores 226 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,251 in New Orleans 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. New Orleans 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 New Orleans has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
New Orleans and Lincoln are 836 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,251 a month in New Orleans to $1,086 a month in Lincoln, down $165 a month (13%).
Median household income goes from $56,631 in New Orleans to $71,867 in Lincoln, up $15,236 (27%).
The crime index goes from 350 in New Orleans to 124 in Lincoln, down 226 points (65%).
The move
Lincoln and New Orleans are 836 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,086 a month in Lincoln to $1,251 a month in New Orleans, up $165 a month (15%).
Median household income goes from $71,867 in Lincoln to $56,631 in New Orleans, down $15,236 (21%).
The crime index goes from 124 in Lincoln to 350 in New Orleans, up 226 points (182%).
New Orleans, LA
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 New Orleans and Lincoln? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
13% cheaper
Lincoln rent is 13% cheaper than New Orleans
New Orleans
$1,251/mo
Lincoln
Winner$1,086/mo
Typical rent runs $1,086 a month in Lincoln versus $1,251 in New Orleans, so Lincoln is 13% 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 $1,980, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Lincoln still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in New Orleans.
Planning to buy in Lincoln? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
27% higher
Lincoln's median income is 27% higher than New Orleans
New Orleans
$56,631
Lincoln
Winner$71,867
Median household income is $71,867 in Lincoln versus $56,631 in New Orleans, so typical pay runs 27% higher in Lincoln (about $15,236 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. New Orleans can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
65% lower crime
Lincoln's crime index is 65% lower than New Orleans
New Orleans
350 (100 = avg)
Lincoln
Winner124 (100 = avg)
Lincoln's crime index is 124 versus 350 in New Orleans (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 65% 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. New Orleans can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
39% more comfortable
New Orleans weather is 39% more comfortable than Lincoln
New Orleans
Winner73°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Lincoln
55°F avg · 64°F highs · comfort 72/100
New Orleans averages about 73°F (81°F highs); Lincoln averages about 55°F (64°F highs). New Orleans sits near 73°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. New Orleans 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 New Orleans if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (73°F) beat Lincoln on this page's weather index by 39%. Lincoln may pay more or cost less, but New Orleans 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 13% 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 27% 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 65% lower than New Orleans (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 22/100 in New Orleans). Typical rent is $1,086 in Lincoln and $1,251 in New Orleans; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Safety still diverges (53/100 in Lincoln vs 22/100 in New Orleans), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $71,867 in Lincoln versus $56,631 in New Orleans.
Lincoln is ahead on safety (53/100 vs 22/100); New Orleans is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,251/month rent plus $56,631 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 New Orleans and Lincoln, plus other cities in LA and NE.
