City comparison
No. Lincoln's crime index is 124 versus 156 in Tucson, and its violent crime index is 114 versus 146, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Lincoln is cheaper. Median rent is $1,086 a month versus $1,145 in Tucson.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Tucson and Lincoln. Tucson averages 77°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 $1,145 versus $1,086.
Lincoln is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, and safety by margins that add up in daily life. Tucson 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 Tucson has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Tucson and Lincoln are 987 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,145 a month in Tucson to $1,086 a month in Lincoln, down $59 a month (5%).
Median household income goes from $57,073 in Tucson to $71,867 in Lincoln, up $14,794 (26%).
The crime index goes from 156 in Tucson to 124 in Lincoln, down 32 points (21%).
The move
Lincoln and Tucson are 987 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,086 a month in Lincoln to $1,145 a month in Tucson, up $59 a month (5%).
Median household income goes from $71,867 in Lincoln to $57,073 in Tucson, down $14,794 (21%).
The crime index goes from 124 in Lincoln to 156 in Tucson, up 32 points (26%).
Tucson, 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 Tucson and Lincoln? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
5% cheaper
Lincoln rent is 5% cheaper than Tucson
Tucson
$1,145/mo
Lincoln
Winner$1,086/mo
Typical rent runs $1,086 a month in Lincoln versus $1,145 in Tucson, so Lincoln is 5% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $59, or $708 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Lincoln? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
26% higher
Lincoln's median income is 26% higher than Tucson
Tucson
$57,073
Lincoln
Winner$71,867
Median household income is $71,867 in Lincoln versus $57,073 in Tucson, so typical pay runs 26% higher in Lincoln (about $14,794 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. Tucson 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 Tucson
Tucson
156 (100 = avg)
Lincoln
Winner124 (100 = avg)
Lincoln's crime index is 124 versus 156 in Tucson (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. Tucson can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
39% more comfortable
Tucson weather is 39% more comfortable than Lincoln
Tucson
Winner77°F avg · 84°F highs · comfort 100/100
Lincoln
55°F avg · 64°F highs · comfort 72/100
Tucson averages about 77°F (84°F highs); Lincoln averages about 55°F (64°F highs). Tucson sits near 77°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Lincoln averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Tucson scores 39% 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
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Pick Tucson if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (77°F) beat Lincoln on this page's weather index by 39%. Lincoln may pay more or cost less, but Tucson is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Lincoln is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 5% 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 city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 26% higher here ($71,867). Start with Lincoln if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
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 Tucson (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
Lincoln (55°F) and Tucson (77°F) are not interchangeable on climate — about 22°F apart on typical temperatures. Rent ($1,086 vs $1,145) and pay ($71,867 vs $57,073) still matter, yet most movers regret ignoring the forecast row.
With only $59 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Median income is $71,867 in Lincoln versus $57,073 in Tucson.
Pick Lincoln when 55°F is the daily environment you want. Otherwise, Tucson's case rests on 77°F you prefer and $1,145 rent you can sustain.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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