Is Jersey City cheaper than Lincoln?

No. Lincoln is cheaper: typical rent is $1,141 a month versus $2,763 in Jersey City — 59% lower. Median household income is $91,151 in Jersey City compared with $67,846 in Lincoln, so Jersey City has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Jersey City or Lincoln?

Jersey City is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 68 versus 70 in Lincoln — 3% 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, Jersey City or Lincoln?

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

New search

City comparison

Jersey City, NJ vs Lincoln, NE

Jersey City, NJ 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 $2,763 a month in Jersey City and $1,141 in Lincoln, and median household income lands at $91,151 versus $67,846. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Jersey City takes job market, safety, and weather, while Lincoln takes affordability. The widest gap is rent, where Lincoln leads by 59% — 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 Jersey City can feel further apart than Jersey City and Lincoln do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Jersey City and Lincoln reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Jersey City report Full Lincoln report

Jersey City, NJ

Rent: $2,763/mo
Median income: $91,151
Crime index: 68
Schools: A-
Weather: 73°F

Lincoln, NE

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

Rent

59% cheaper

Lincoln rent is 59% cheaper than Jersey City

Jersey City

$2,763/mo

Lincoln

Winner

$1,141/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,141 a month in Lincoln versus $2,763 in Jersey City, so Lincoln is 59% cheaper. That's roughly $1,622/month back in your pocket — $19,464/year. Over five years that's $97,320 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 Jersey City, 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

34% higher

Jersey City's median income is 34% higher than Lincoln

Jersey City

Winner

$91,151

Lincoln

$67,846

What this means for your life

Median household income is $91,151 in Jersey City versus $67,846 in Lincoln, so typical pay runs 34% higher in Jersey City — about $23,305 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, Jersey City is the stronger labor market on paper. Lincoln can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.

Crime index

3% lower crime

Jersey City's crime index is 3% lower than Lincoln

Jersey City

Winner

68 (100 = avg)

Lincoln

70 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Jersey City's crime index is 68 versus 70 in Lincoln (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 3% lower in Jersey City. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Jersey City, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Lincoln. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.

School scores

Neck and neck

Jersey City and Lincoln are about even on school scores.

Jersey City

A- · 84/100

Lincoln

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Jersey City, 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

19% more comfortable

Jersey City weather is 19% more comfortable than Lincoln

Jersey City

Winner

73°F typical

Lincoln

79°F typical

What this means for your life

Jersey City scores 19% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 73°F in Jersey City and 79°F in Lincoln. Jersey City reads as warm weather most of the year; Lincoln reads as warm weather most of the year. Climate affects quality of life more than most people anticipate when planning a move. Consider how much time you spend outdoors and whether extreme heat or cold impacts your mood or productivity. Jersey City is the better default if you want year-round outdoor access. Lincoln can still be right if you love that climate on purpose — beach heat, dry heat, or a real winter — but you cannot return a city's weather.

Fit check

Who should choose Jersey City

Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access

It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 34% higher ($91,151), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two — around 73°F. That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.

Jersey City is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 3% lower than Lincoln (68 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 Jersey City report →

Fit check

Who should choose Lincoln

People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Lincoln

Lincoln is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 59% 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.

Open the Lincoln report →

Bottom line

Jersey City vs Lincoln, called

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

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

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

Common questions

Jersey City vs Lincoln FAQ

Is Jersey City cheaper than Lincoln?: No. Lincoln is cheaper: typical rent is $1,141 a month versus $2,763 in Jersey City — 59% lower. Median household income is $91,151 in Jersey City compared with $67,846 in Lincoln, so Jersey City has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Jersey City or Lincoln?: Jersey City is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 68 versus 70 in Lincoln — 3% 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, Jersey City or Lincoln?: School composites are close: A- in Jersey City and A- in Lincoln. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

Ready to move to Jersey City?

Find apartments →Get a mortgage rate →

Next steps