City comparison
Lincoln is safer than Tulsa. Lincoln's crime index is 124 versus 236 in Tulsa, and its violent crime index is 114 versus 257, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Tulsa is cheaper. Median rent is $1,052 a month versus $1,086 in Lincoln.
Safety is where Tulsa and Lincoln split most clearly. Lincoln scores 112 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,052 in Tulsa and $1,086 in Lincoln.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Tulsa costs less and Lincoln 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 crime gap is citywide. Lincoln has rougher pockets and Tulsa has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Tulsa and Lincoln are 323 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,052 a month in Tulsa to $1,086 a month in Lincoln, up $34 a month (3%).
Median household income goes from $59,838 in Tulsa to $71,867 in Lincoln, up $12,029 (20%).
The crime index goes from 236 in Tulsa to 124 in Lincoln, down 112 points (47%).
The move
Lincoln and Tulsa are 323 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,086 a month in Lincoln to $1,052 a month in Tulsa, down $34 a month (3%).
Median household income goes from $71,867 in Lincoln to $59,838 in Tulsa, down $12,029 (17%).
The crime index goes from 124 in Lincoln to 236 in Tulsa, up 112 points (90%).
Tulsa, OK
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 Tulsa and Lincoln? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
3% cheaper
Tulsa rent is 3% cheaper than Lincoln
Tulsa
Winner$1,052/mo
Lincoln
$1,086/mo
Typical rent runs $1,052 a month in Tulsa versus $1,086 in Lincoln, so Tulsa is 3% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $34, or $408 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 Tulsa? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
20% higher
Lincoln's median income is 20% higher than Tulsa
Tulsa
$59,838
Lincoln
Winner$71,867
Median household income is $71,867 in Lincoln versus $59,838 in Tulsa, so typical pay runs 20% higher in Lincoln (about $12,029 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. Tulsa can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
47% lower crime
Lincoln's crime index is 47% lower than Tulsa
Tulsa
236 (100 = avg)
Lincoln
Winner124 (100 = avg)
Lincoln's crime index is 124 versus 236 in Tulsa (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 47% 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. Tulsa can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
12% more comfortable
Tulsa weather is 12% more comfortable than Lincoln
Tulsa
Winner68°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Lincoln
61°F avg · 70°F highs · comfort 89/100
Tulsa averages about 68°F (76°F highs); Lincoln averages about 61°F (70°F highs). Tulsa sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Lincoln averages around 61°F. Tulsa 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
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Tulsa is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 3% cheaper here at about $1,052 a month. Choose Tulsa if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Tulsa if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (68°F) beat Lincoln on this page's weather index by 12%. Lincoln may pay more or cost less, but Tulsa is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Lincoln is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 20% 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 47% lower than Tulsa (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
Tulsa carries the heavier crime signal on this page (34/100 safety vs 53/100 in Lincoln). That 19-point spread matters more than the $34 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Tulsa rent at $1,052/month is still below Lincoln's $1,086, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 68°F in Tulsa and 61°F in Lincoln.
If safety drives your move, Lincoln is the stronger match (53/100 safety versus 34/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Tulsa, treat $1,052/month rent and $59,838 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Tulsa and Lincoln, plus other cities in OK and NE.
