City comparison
Lincoln is safer than San Jose. Lincoln's crime index is 124 versus 157 in San Jose, and its violent crime index is 114 versus 161, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Lincoln is cheaper. Median rent is $1,086 a month versus $2,669 in San Jose.
The income gap between San Jose and Lincoln is significant: $146,427 median household versus $71,867. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $2,669 in San Jose and $1,086 in Lincoln.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Lincoln costs less and San Jose 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
San Jose and Lincoln are 1,369 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,669 a month in San Jose to $1,086 a month in Lincoln, down $1,583 a month (59%).
Median household income goes from $146,427 in San Jose to $71,867 in Lincoln, down $74,560 (51%).
The crime index goes from 157 in San Jose to 124 in Lincoln, down 33 points (21%).
The move
Lincoln and San Jose are 1,369 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,086 a month in Lincoln to $2,669 a month in San Jose, up $1,583 a month (146%).
Median household income goes from $71,867 in Lincoln to $146,427 in San Jose, up $74,560 (104%).
The crime index goes from 124 in Lincoln to 157 in San Jose, up 33 points (27%).
San Jose, 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 San Jose and Lincoln? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
59% cheaper
Lincoln rent is 59% cheaper than San Jose
San Jose
$2,669/mo
Lincoln
Winner$1,086/mo
Typical rent runs $1,086 a month in Lincoln versus $2,669 in San Jose, so Lincoln is 59% cheaper. That's roughly $1,583/month back in your pocket ($18,996/year). Over five years that's $94,980 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 San Jose, 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
104% higher
San Jose's median income is 104% higher than Lincoln
San Jose
Winner$146,427
Lincoln
$71,867
Median household income is $146,427 in San Jose versus $71,867 in Lincoln, so typical pay runs 104% higher in San Jose (about $74,560 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, San Jose 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
21% lower crime
Lincoln's crime index is 21% lower than San Jose
San Jose
157 (100 = avg)
Lincoln
Winner124 (100 = avg)
Lincoln's crime index is 124 versus 157 in San Jose (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 21% 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. San Jose can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
12% more comfortable
San Jose weather is 12% more comfortable than Lincoln
San Jose
Winner70°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Lincoln
61°F avg · 70°F highs · comfort 89/100
San Jose averages about 70°F (81°F highs); Lincoln averages about 61°F (70°F highs). San Jose sits near 70°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Lincoln averages around 61°F. San Jose scores 12% 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 104% higher ($146,427), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 70°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 59% 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 21% lower than San Jose (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
On rent alone, Lincoln undercuts San Jose by $1,583/month ($1,086 vs $2,669). I would not pick San Jose on housing cost without a job that clears that spread.
Lincoln rent at $1,086/month is still below San Jose's $2,669, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 46/100 in San Jose and 53/100 in Lincoln.
Lincoln is the default on housing cost at $1,086/month versus $2,669 in San Jose; San Jose stays in play when $146,427 local pay or an existing job offer outweighs the $1,583 lease gap.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for San Jose and Lincoln, plus other cities in CA and NE.
