City comparison
No. Lincoln's crime index is 124 versus 183 in Oklahoma City, and its violent crime index is 114 versus 197, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Lincoln is cheaper. Median rent is $1,086 a month versus $1,130 in Oklahoma City.
Safety is where Oklahoma City and Lincoln split most clearly. Lincoln scores 59 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,130 in Oklahoma City 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. Oklahoma City 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 Oklahoma City has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Oklahoma City and Lincoln are 371 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,130 a month in Oklahoma City to $1,086 a month in Lincoln, down $44 a month (4%).
Median household income goes from $68,656 in Oklahoma City to $71,867 in Lincoln, up $3,211 (5%).
The crime index goes from 183 in Oklahoma City to 124 in Lincoln, down 59 points (32%).
The move
Lincoln and Oklahoma City are 371 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,086 a month in Lincoln to $1,130 a month in Oklahoma City, up $44 a month (4%).
Median household income goes from $71,867 in Lincoln to $68,656 in Oklahoma City, down $3,211 (4%).
The crime index goes from 124 in Lincoln to 183 in Oklahoma City, up 59 points (48%).
Oklahoma City, OK
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 Oklahoma City and Lincoln? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
4% cheaper
Lincoln rent is 4% cheaper than Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City
$1,130/mo
Lincoln
Winner$1,086/mo
Typical rent runs $1,086 a month in Lincoln versus $1,130 in Oklahoma City, so Lincoln is 4% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $44, or $528 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
5% higher
Lincoln's median income is 5% higher than Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City
$68,656
Lincoln
Winner$71,867
Median household income is $71,867 in Lincoln versus $68,656 in Oklahoma City, so typical pay runs 5% higher in Lincoln (about $3,211 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
32% lower crime
Lincoln's crime index is 32% lower than Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City
183 (100 = avg)
Lincoln
Winner124 (100 = avg)
Lincoln's crime index is 124 versus 183 in Oklahoma City (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 32% 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. Oklahoma City can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
24% more comfortable
Oklahoma City weather is 24% more comfortable than Lincoln
Oklahoma City
Winner61°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 89/100
Lincoln
55°F avg · 64°F highs · comfort 72/100
Oklahoma City averages about 61°F (69°F highs); Lincoln averages about 55°F (64°F highs). Oklahoma City averages around 61°F. Lincoln averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Oklahoma City scores 24% 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 Oklahoma City if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (61°F) beat Lincoln on this page's weather index by 24%. Lincoln may pay more or cost less, but Oklahoma City 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 4% 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 5% 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 32% lower than Oklahoma City (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 42/100 in Oklahoma City). Typical rent is $1,086 in Lincoln and $1,130 in Oklahoma City; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Safety still diverges (53/100 in Lincoln vs 42/100 in Oklahoma City), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $71,867 in Lincoln versus $68,656 in Oklahoma City.
Lincoln is ahead on safety (53/100 vs 42/100); Oklahoma City is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,130/month rent plus $68,656 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 Oklahoma City and Lincoln, plus other cities in OK and NE.
