City comparison
No. Lincoln's crime index is 124 versus 166 in St Paul, and its violent crime index is 114 versus 160, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Lincoln is cheaper. Median rent is $1,086 a month versus $1,281 in St Paul.
Safety is where St Paul and Lincoln split most clearly. Lincoln scores 42 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,281 in St Paul and $1,086 in Lincoln.
Lincoln is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. St Paul 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 St Paul has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
St Paul and Lincoln are 339 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,281 a month in St Paul to $1,086 a month in Lincoln, down $195 a month (15%).
Median household income goes from $73,394 in St Paul to $71,867 in Lincoln, down $1,527 (2%).
The crime index goes from 166 in St Paul to 124 in Lincoln, down 42 points (25%).
The move
Lincoln and St Paul are 339 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,086 a month in Lincoln to $1,281 a month in St Paul, up $195 a month (18%).
Median household income goes from $71,867 in Lincoln to $73,394 in St Paul, up $1,527 (2%).
The crime index goes from 124 in Lincoln to 166 in St Paul, up 42 points (34%).
St Paul, MN
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 St Paul and Lincoln? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
15% cheaper
Lincoln rent is 15% cheaper than St Paul
St Paul
$1,281/mo
Lincoln
Winner$1,086/mo
Typical rent runs $1,086 a month in Lincoln versus $1,281 in St Paul, so Lincoln is 15% 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 $2,340, 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 St Paul.
Planning to buy in Lincoln? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
2% higher
St Paul's median income is 2% higher than Lincoln
St Paul
Winner$73,394
Lincoln
$71,867
Median household income is $73,394 in St Paul versus $71,867 in Lincoln, so typical pay runs 2% higher in St Paul (about $1,527 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
25% lower crime
Lincoln's crime index is 25% lower than St Paul
St Paul
166 (100 = avg)
Lincoln
Winner124 (100 = avg)
Lincoln's crime index is 124 versus 166 in St Paul (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 25% 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. St Paul can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
24% more comfortable
Lincoln weather is 24% more comfortable than St Paul
St Paul
50°F avg · 57°F highs · comfort 58/100
Lincoln
Winner55°F avg · 64°F highs · comfort 72/100
St Paul averages about 50°F (57°F highs); Lincoln averages about 55°F (64°F highs). St Paul averages around 50°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 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 St Paul 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 and professional growth
St Paul is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 2% higher here ($73,394). Start with St Paul if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Lincoln is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 15% 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.
Pick Lincoln if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (55°F) beat St Paul on this page's weather index by 24%. St Paul may pay more or cost less, but Lincoln is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Lincoln is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 25% lower than St Paul (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
Crime and safety tilt toward Lincoln: Lincoln scores 53/100 versus 45/100 in St Paul, with typical rent at $1,086 versus $1,281. I would vet the exact ZIP in St Paul before trading 8 safety points for housing savings.
With only $195 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Weather averages land near 50°F in St Paul and 55°F in Lincoln.
Pick Lincoln when you want the stronger safety signal (53/100). Otherwise, St Paul's case rests on a St Paul ZIP you trust at $1,281 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Lincoln when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for St Paul and Lincoln, plus other cities in MN and NE.
