City comparison
No. Lincoln's crime index is 124 versus 136 in Newark, and its violent crime index is 114 versus 159, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Lincoln is cheaper. Median rent is $1,086 a month versus $1,392 in Newark.
The income gap between Newark and Lincoln is significant: $52,060 median household versus $71,867. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,392 in Newark and $1,086 in Lincoln.
Lincoln is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Newark 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
Newark and Lincoln are 1,174 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,392 a month in Newark to $1,086 a month in Lincoln, down $306 a month (22%).
Median household income goes from $52,060 in Newark to $71,867 in Lincoln, up $19,807 (38%).
The crime index goes from 136 in Newark to 124 in Lincoln, down 12 points (9%).
The move
Lincoln and Newark are 1,174 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,086 a month in Lincoln to $1,392 a month in Newark, up $306 a month (28%).
Median household income goes from $71,867 in Lincoln to $52,060 in Newark, down $19,807 (28%).
The crime index goes from 124 in Lincoln to 136 in Newark, up 12 points (10%).
Newark, NJ
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 Newark and Lincoln? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
22% cheaper
Lincoln rent is 22% cheaper than Newark
Newark
$1,392/mo
Lincoln
Winner$1,086/mo
Typical rent runs $1,086 a month in Lincoln versus $1,392 in Newark, so Lincoln is 22% cheaper. That's roughly $306/month back in your pocket ($3,672/year). Over five years that's $18,360 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 Newark, 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
38% higher
Lincoln's median income is 38% higher than Newark
Newark
$52,060
Lincoln
Winner$71,867
Median household income is $71,867 in Lincoln versus $52,060 in Newark, so typical pay runs 38% higher in Lincoln (about $19,807 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. Newark can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
9% lower crime
Lincoln's crime index is 9% lower than Newark
Newark
136 (100 = avg)
Lincoln
Winner124 (100 = avg)
Lincoln's crime index is 124 versus 136 in Newark (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 9% lower in Lincoln. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Lincoln, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Newark. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
4% more comfortable
Lincoln weather is 4% more comfortable than Newark
Newark
54°F avg · 60°F highs · comfort 69/100
Lincoln
Winner55°F avg · 64°F highs · comfort 72/100
Newark averages about 54°F (60°F highs); Lincoln averages about 55°F (64°F highs). Newark averages around 54°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. Lincoln scores 4% 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 Newark if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Newark
On these five categories Lincoln takes the scoreboard, so you should not choose Newark because the stats are kinder. They are not. Choose Newark only if a job offer, family, a specific neighborhood, or a life you already started there outweighs the box score. Plenty of good moves ignore the aggregate; just do it on purpose.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
Lincoln is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 22% 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.
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 38% 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 9% lower than Newark (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
Newark is cheaper on rent ($1,392/month vs $1,086), but Lincoln's $71,867 median income beats Newark's $52,060 by 28%. Remote workers paid on Lincoln scales can make that trade; local-market earners often cannot.
Safety scores read 51/100 in Newark and 53/100 in Lincoln.
Most movers who prioritize local pay land in Lincoln; Newark only makes sense when $1,392/month housing savings outweigh $71,867 median pay in your field.
Typical rent stays $1,086 in Lincoln and $1,392 in Newark.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Newark and Lincoln, plus other cities in NJ and NE.
