Is Durham cheaper than Lincoln?

No. Lincoln is cheaper: typical rent is $1,141 a month versus $1,711 in Durham — 33% lower. Median household income is $74,710 in Durham compared with $67,846 in Lincoln, so Durham has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Durham or Lincoln?

Lincoln is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 70 versus 97 in Durham — 28% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.

Which city has better schools, Durham or Lincoln?

School composites are close: A- in Durham and A- in Lincoln. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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City comparison

Durham, NC vs Lincoln, NE

Durham, NC versus Lincoln, NE is a real move, not a trivia matchup. This comparison uses the same 2026 neighborhood report data we publish on each city page — typical rent, median household income, crime indexes, school composites, and typical weather — so you can see which city actually fits how you live, work, and spend. Typical rents sit near $1,711 a month in Durham and $1,141 in Lincoln, and median household income lands at $74,710 versus $67,846. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Durham takes job market, while Lincoln takes affordability and safety. The widest gap is rent, where Lincoln leads by 33% — the kind of spread you feel in a monthly budget or a nightly walk, not just on a chart. Read the category rows as a filter: if cheaper housing would change your life more than a stronger job market, weight rent first. If you are moving with kids, weight schools and crime. If you picked a city after one good weekend, use the weather and income rows to test whether that weekend survives a full year.

Numbers below are citywide, not a guarantee about the street you will actually live on. Two ZIP codes in Durham can feel further apart than Durham and Lincoln do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Durham and Lincoln reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Durham report Full Lincoln report

Durham, NC

Rent: $1,711/mo
Median income: $74,710
Crime index: 97
Schools: A-
Weather: 79°F

Lincoln, NE

Rent: $1,141/mo
Median income: $67,846
Crime index: 70
Schools: A-
Weather: 79°F

Rent

33% cheaper

Lincoln rent is 33% cheaper than Durham

Durham

$1,711/mo

Lincoln

Winner

$1,141/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,141 a month in Lincoln versus $1,711 in Durham, so Lincoln is 33% cheaper. That's roughly $570/month back in your pocket — $6,840/year. Over five years that's $34,200 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 Durham, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Lincoln is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.

Median income

10% higher

Durham's median income is 10% higher than Lincoln

Durham

Winner

$74,710

Lincoln

$67,846

What this means for your life

Median household income is $74,710 in Durham versus $67,846 in Lincoln, so typical pay runs 10% higher in Durham — about $6,864 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

28% lower crime

Lincoln's crime index is 28% lower than Durham

Durham

97 (100 = avg)

Lincoln

Winner

70 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Lincoln's crime index is 70 versus 97 in Durham (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 28% 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. Durham can still work if you pick the right pocket — just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.

School scores

Neck and neck

Durham and Lincoln are about even on school scores.

Durham

A- · 84/100

Lincoln

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Durham, A- in Lincoln). For families with kids this is a warning if you assumed one city was obviously better — at this range the campus, not the city name, decides it. Tour the zoned elementary you would actually use.

Typical weather

Neck and neck

Durham and Lincoln are about even on typical weather.

Durham

79°F typical

Lincoln

79°F typical

What this means for your life

Outdoor comfort is close between Durham and Lincoln. Typical temperatures sit around 79°F in Durham and 79°F in Lincoln. You are choosing a flavor of season, not paradise versus misery. Visit in the season you currently like least. A long weekend in October lies; a week in July or January does not.

Fit check

Who should choose Durham

Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth

Durham is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 10% higher here ($74,710). Start with Durham if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.

Open the Durham report →

Fit check

Who should choose Lincoln

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 33% cheaper here at about $1,141 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 28% lower than Durham (70 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.

Open the Lincoln report →

Bottom line

Durham vs Lincoln, called

If cost of living is your priority, Lincoln is the clear choice.

If the job market matters more to you, Durham pulls ahead.

For most movers comparing these two cities, Lincoln offers the better overall package.

Common questions

Durham vs Lincoln FAQ

Is Durham cheaper than Lincoln?: No. Lincoln is cheaper: typical rent is $1,141 a month versus $1,711 in Durham — 33% lower. Median household income is $74,710 in Durham compared with $67,846 in Lincoln, so Durham has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Durham or Lincoln?: Lincoln is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 70 versus 97 in Durham — 28% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.
Which city has better schools, Durham or Lincoln?: School composites are close: A- in Durham and A- in Lincoln. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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