City comparison
No. Lincoln's crime index is 124 versus 261 in Philadelphia, and its violent crime index is 114 versus 252, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Lincoln is cheaper. Median rent is $1,086 a month versus $1,397 in Philadelphia.
Safety is where Philadelphia and Lincoln split most clearly. Lincoln scores 137 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,397 in Philadelphia 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. Philadelphia 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
Philadelphia and Lincoln are 1,131 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,397 a month in Philadelphia to $1,086 a month in Lincoln, down $311 a month (22%).
Median household income goes from $61,953 in Philadelphia to $71,867 in Lincoln, up $9,914 (16%).
The crime index goes from 261 in Philadelphia to 124 in Lincoln, down 137 points (52%).
The move
Lincoln and Philadelphia are 1,131 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,086 a month in Lincoln to $1,397 a month in Philadelphia, up $311 a month (29%).
Median household income goes from $71,867 in Lincoln to $61,953 in Philadelphia, down $9,914 (14%).
The crime index goes from 124 in Lincoln to 261 in Philadelphia, up 137 points (110%).
Philadelphia, PA
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 Philadelphia and Lincoln? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
22% cheaper
Lincoln rent is 22% cheaper than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
$1,397/mo
Lincoln
Winner$1,086/mo
Typical rent runs $1,086 a month in Lincoln versus $1,397 in Philadelphia, so Lincoln is 22% cheaper. That's roughly $311/month back in your pocket ($3,732/year). Over five years that's $18,660 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 Philadelphia, 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
16% higher
Lincoln's median income is 16% higher than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
$61,953
Lincoln
Winner$71,867
Median household income is $71,867 in Lincoln versus $61,953 in Philadelphia, so typical pay runs 16% higher in Lincoln (about $9,914 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. Philadelphia can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
52% lower crime
Lincoln's crime index is 52% lower than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
261 (100 = avg)
Lincoln
Winner124 (100 = avg)
Lincoln's crime index is 124 versus 261 in Philadelphia (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 52% 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. Philadelphia can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
4% more comfortable
Lincoln weather is 4% more comfortable than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
54°F avg · 61°F highs · comfort 69/100
Lincoln
Winner55°F avg · 64°F highs · comfort 72/100
Philadelphia averages about 54°F (61°F highs); Lincoln averages about 55°F (64°F highs). Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia
On these five categories Lincoln takes the scoreboard, so you should not choose Philadelphia because the stats are kinder. They are not. Choose Philadelphia 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 16% 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 52% lower than Philadelphia (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 31/100 in Philadelphia). Typical rent is $1,086 in Lincoln and $1,397 in Philadelphia; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Safety still diverges (53/100 in Lincoln vs 31/100 in Philadelphia), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $71,867 in Lincoln versus $61,953 in Philadelphia.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Lincoln; Philadelphia only makes sense when you have walked the Philadelphia ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,397 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Philadelphia and Lincoln, plus other cities in PA and NE.
