City comparison
No. Lincoln's crime index is 124 versus 326 in Wichita, and its violent crime index is 114 versus 353, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Wichita is cheaper. Median rent is $975 a month versus $1,086 in Lincoln.
Safety is where Wichita and Lincoln split most clearly. Lincoln scores 202 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $975 in Wichita and $1,086 in Lincoln.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Wichita 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 Wichita has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Wichita and Lincoln are 218 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $975 a month in Wichita to $1,086 a month in Lincoln, up $111 a month (11%).
Median household income goes from $64,620 in Wichita to $71,867 in Lincoln, up $7,247 (11%).
The crime index goes from 326 in Wichita to 124 in Lincoln, down 202 points (62%).
The move
Lincoln and Wichita are 218 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,086 a month in Lincoln to $975 a month in Wichita, down $111 a month (10%).
Median household income goes from $71,867 in Lincoln to $64,620 in Wichita, down $7,247 (10%).
The crime index goes from 124 in Lincoln to 326 in Wichita, up 202 points (163%).
Wichita, KS
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 Wichita and Lincoln? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
10% cheaper
Wichita rent is 10% cheaper than Lincoln
Wichita
Winner$975/mo
Lincoln
$1,086/mo
Typical rent runs $975 a month in Wichita versus $1,086 in Lincoln, so Wichita is 10% 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 $1,332, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Wichita still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Lincoln.
Planning to buy in Wichita? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
11% higher
Lincoln's median income is 11% higher than Wichita
Wichita
$64,620
Lincoln
Winner$71,867
Median household income is $71,867 in Lincoln versus $64,620 in Wichita, so typical pay runs 11% higher in Lincoln (about $7,247 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. Wichita can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
62% lower crime
Lincoln's crime index is 62% lower than Wichita
Wichita
326 (100 = avg)
Lincoln
Winner124 (100 = avg)
Lincoln's crime index is 124 versus 326 in Wichita (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 62% 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. Wichita can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
24% more comfortable
Wichita weather is 24% more comfortable than Lincoln
Wichita
Winner61°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 89/100
Lincoln
55°F avg · 64°F highs · comfort 72/100
Wichita averages about 61°F (69°F highs); Lincoln averages about 55°F (64°F highs). Wichita averages around 61°F. Lincoln averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Wichita 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 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
Wichita is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 10% cheaper here at about $975 a month. Choose Wichita if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Wichita if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (61°F) beat Lincoln on this page's weather index by 24%. Lincoln may pay more or cost less, but Wichita 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 11% 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 62% lower than Wichita (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
Wichita carries the heavier crime signal on this page (24/100 safety vs 53/100 in Lincoln). That 29-point spread matters more than the $111 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Safety still diverges (53/100 in Lincoln vs 24/100 in Wichita), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $975 in Wichita and $1,086 in Lincoln.
Pick Lincoln when you want the stronger safety signal (53/100). Otherwise, Wichita's case rests on a Wichita ZIP you trust at $975 rent.
Common questions
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