City comparison
No. Lincoln's crime index is 124 versus 434 in Oakland, and its violent crime index is 114 versus 491, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Lincoln is cheaper. Median rent is $1,086 a month versus $1,979 in Oakland.
Safety is where Oakland and Lincoln split most clearly. Lincoln scores 310 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,979 in Oakland and $1,086 in Lincoln.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Lincoln costs less and Oakland pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
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
Oakland and Lincoln are 1,379 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,979 a month in Oakland to $1,086 a month in Lincoln, down $893 a month (45%).
Median household income goes from $101,600 in Oakland to $71,867 in Lincoln, down $29,733 (29%).
The crime index goes from 434 in Oakland to 124 in Lincoln, down 310 points (71%).
The move
Lincoln and Oakland are 1,379 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,086 a month in Lincoln to $1,979 a month in Oakland, up $893 a month (82%).
Median household income goes from $71,867 in Lincoln to $101,600 in Oakland, up $29,733 (41%).
The crime index goes from 124 in Lincoln to 434 in Oakland, up 310 points (250%).
Oakland, CA
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 Oakland and Lincoln? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
45% cheaper
Lincoln rent is 45% cheaper than Oakland
Oakland
$1,979/mo
Lincoln
Winner$1,086/mo
Typical rent runs $1,086 a month in Lincoln versus $1,979 in Oakland, so Lincoln is 45% cheaper. That's roughly $893/month back in your pocket ($10,716/year). Over five years that's $53,580 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 Oakland, 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
41% higher
Oakland's median income is 41% higher than Lincoln
Oakland
Winner$101,600
Lincoln
$71,867
Median household income is $101,600 in Oakland versus $71,867 in Lincoln, so typical pay runs 41% higher in Oakland (about $29,733 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, Oakland is the stronger labor market on paper. Lincoln can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
71% lower crime
Lincoln's crime index is 71% lower than Oakland
Oakland
434 (100 = avg)
Lincoln
Winner124 (100 = avg)
Lincoln's crime index is 124 versus 434 in Oakland (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 71% 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. Oakland can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
39% more comfortable
Oakland weather is 39% more comfortable than Lincoln
Oakland
Winner68°F avg · 80°F highs · comfort 100/100
Lincoln
55°F avg · 64°F highs · comfort 72/100
Oakland averages about 68°F (80°F highs); Lincoln averages about 55°F (64°F highs). Oakland 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. Oakland 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
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 41% higher ($101,600), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 68°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Lincoln is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 45% 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 fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 71% lower than Oakland (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 15/100 in Oakland). Typical rent is $1,086 in Lincoln and $1,979 in Oakland; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Oakland still pays more locally ($101,600 median income vs $71,867), which can offset the lease if your field pays Oakland rates.
Median income is $101,600 in Oakland versus $71,867 in Lincoln.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Lincoln; Oakland only makes sense when you have walked the Oakland ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,979 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Oakland and Lincoln, plus other cities in CA and NE.
