City comparison
No. Lincoln's crime index is 124 versus 158 in Pittsburgh, and its violent crime index is 114 versus 147, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Lincoln is cheaper. Median rent is $1,086 a month versus $1,261 in Pittsburgh.
Safety is where Pittsburgh and Lincoln split most clearly. Lincoln scores 34 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,261 in Pittsburgh 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. Pittsburgh 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 Pittsburgh has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Pittsburgh and Lincoln are 873 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh to $1,086 a month in Lincoln, down $175 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $65,742 in Pittsburgh to $71,867 in Lincoln, up $6,125 (9%).
The crime index goes from 158 in Pittsburgh to 124 in Lincoln, down 34 points (22%).
The move
Lincoln and Pittsburgh are 873 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,086 a month in Lincoln to $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh, up $175 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $71,867 in Lincoln to $65,742 in Pittsburgh, down $6,125 (9%).
The crime index goes from 124 in Lincoln to 158 in Pittsburgh, up 34 points (27%).
Pittsburgh, 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 Pittsburgh and Lincoln? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
14% cheaper
Lincoln rent is 14% cheaper than Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh
$1,261/mo
Lincoln
Winner$1,086/mo
Typical rent runs $1,086 a month in Lincoln versus $1,261 in Pittsburgh, so Lincoln is 14% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $2,100, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Lincoln still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Pittsburgh.
Planning to buy in Lincoln? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
9% higher
Lincoln's median income is 9% higher than Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh
$65,742
Lincoln
Winner$71,867
Median household income is $71,867 in Lincoln versus $65,742 in Pittsburgh, so typical pay runs 9% higher in Lincoln (about $6,125 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
22% lower crime
Lincoln's crime index is 22% lower than Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh
158 (100 = avg)
Lincoln
Winner124 (100 = avg)
Lincoln's crime index is 124 versus 158 in Pittsburgh (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 22% 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. Pittsburgh can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
18% more comfortable
Lincoln weather is 18% more comfortable than Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh
51°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 61/100
Lincoln
Winner55°F avg · 64°F highs · comfort 72/100
Pittsburgh averages about 51°F (58°F highs); Lincoln averages about 55°F (64°F highs). Pittsburgh averages around 51°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 18% 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 Pittsburgh 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 Pittsburgh
On these five categories Lincoln takes the scoreboard, so you should not choose Pittsburgh because the stats are kinder. They are not. Choose Pittsburgh 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 14% 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 9% 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 22% lower than Pittsburgh (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
Housing separates these metros first: $1,086/month in Lincoln versus $1,261 in Pittsburgh. Median income reads $71,867 in Lincoln and $65,742 in Pittsburgh, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
Weather averages land near 51°F in Pittsburgh and 55°F in Lincoln.
Pick Lincoln when shaving $175 off rent at $1,086/month is the priority. Otherwise, Pittsburgh's case rests on $1,261/month rent with $65,742 local income.
With rent only $175 apart, neither city wins on housing alone — let income ($65,742 vs $71,867) and safety (46/100 vs 53/100) break the tie.
Common questions
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