City comparison
No. Lincoln's crime index is 124 versus 174 in Phoenix, and its violent crime index is 114 versus 216, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Lincoln is cheaper. Median rent is $1,086 a month versus $1,582 in Phoenix.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Phoenix and Lincoln. Phoenix averages 81°F while Lincoln averages 55°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,582 versus $1,086.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Lincoln costs less and Phoenix 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
Phoenix and Lincoln are 987 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,582 a month in Phoenix to $1,086 a month in Lincoln, down $496 a month (31%).
Median household income goes from $81,332 in Phoenix to $71,867 in Lincoln, down $9,465 (12%).
The crime index goes from 174 in Phoenix to 124 in Lincoln, down 50 points (29%).
The move
Lincoln and Phoenix are 987 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,086 a month in Lincoln to $1,582 a month in Phoenix, up $496 a month (46%).
Median household income goes from $71,867 in Lincoln to $81,332 in Phoenix, up $9,465 (13%).
The crime index goes from 124 in Lincoln to 174 in Phoenix, up 50 points (40%).
Phoenix, AZ
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 Phoenix and Lincoln? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
31% cheaper
Lincoln rent is 31% cheaper than Phoenix
Phoenix
$1,582/mo
Lincoln
Winner$1,086/mo
Typical rent runs $1,086 a month in Lincoln versus $1,582 in Phoenix, so Lincoln is 31% cheaper. That's roughly $496/month back in your pocket ($5,952/year). Over five years that's $29,760 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 Phoenix, 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
13% higher
Phoenix's median income is 13% higher than Lincoln
Phoenix
Winner$81,332
Lincoln
$71,867
Median household income is $81,332 in Phoenix versus $71,867 in Lincoln, so typical pay runs 13% higher in Phoenix (about $9,465 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, Phoenix 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
29% lower crime
Lincoln's crime index is 29% lower than Phoenix
Phoenix
174 (100 = avg)
Lincoln
Winner124 (100 = avg)
Lincoln's crime index is 124 versus 174 in Phoenix (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 29% 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. Phoenix can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
35% more comfortable
Phoenix weather is 35% more comfortable than Lincoln
Phoenix
Winner81°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 97/100
Lincoln
55°F avg · 64°F highs · comfort 72/100
Phoenix averages about 81°F (87°F highs); Lincoln averages about 55°F (64°F highs). Phoenix averages around 81°F. Lincoln averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Phoenix scores 35% 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 13% higher ($81,332), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 81°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 31% 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 29% lower than Phoenix (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
Weather separates these metros: $1,582/month rent in Phoenix at 81°F versus $1,086 in Lincoln at 55°F. Income runs $81,332 vs $71,867, but the daily feel of the move is the temperature gap.
Phoenix still pays more locally ($81,332 median income vs $71,867), which can offset the lease if your field pays Phoenix rates.
Safety scores read 43/100 in Phoenix and 53/100 in Lincoln.
Phoenix wins on climate (81°F vs 55°F); Lincoln is the better fit if $1,086 rent and $71,867 pay matter more than daily weather.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Phoenix and Lincoln, plus other cities in AZ and NE.
