Is Philadelphia cheaper than Lincoln?

No. Lincoln is cheaper: typical rent is $1,141 a month versus $1,810 in Philadelphia — 37% lower. Median household income is $57,537 in Philadelphia compared with $67,846 in Lincoln, so Lincoln has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Philadelphia or Lincoln?

Lincoln is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 70 versus 75 in Philadelphia — 7% 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, Philadelphia or Lincoln?

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

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City comparison

Philadelphia, PA vs Lincoln, NE

Philadelphia, PA 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 $1,810 a month in Philadelphia and $1,141 in Lincoln, and median household income lands at $57,537 versus $67,846. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Philadelphia takes weather, while Lincoln takes affordability, job market, and safety. The widest gap is rent, where Lincoln leads by 37% — 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 Philadelphia can feel further apart than Philadelphia and Lincoln do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Philadelphia and Lincoln reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Philadelphia report Full Lincoln report

Philadelphia, PA

Rent: $1,810/mo
Median income: $57,537
Crime index: 75
Schools: A-
Weather: 75°F

Lincoln, NE

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

Rent

37% cheaper

Lincoln rent is 37% cheaper than Philadelphia

Philadelphia

$1,810/mo

Lincoln

Winner

$1,141/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,141 a month in Lincoln versus $1,810 in Philadelphia, so Lincoln is 37% cheaper. That's roughly $669/month back in your pocket — $8,028/year. Over five years that's $40,140 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 Philadelphia, 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

18% higher

Lincoln's median income is 18% higher than Philadelphia

Philadelphia

$57,537

Lincoln

Winner

$67,846

What this means for your life

Median household income is $67,846 in Lincoln versus $57,537 in Philadelphia, so typical pay runs 18% higher in Lincoln — about $10,309 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. Philadelphia can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.

Crime index

7% lower crime

Lincoln's crime index is 7% lower than Philadelphia

Philadelphia

75 (100 = avg)

Lincoln

Winner

70 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Lincoln's crime index is 70 versus 75 in Philadelphia (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 7% lower in Lincoln. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Lincoln, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Philadelphia. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.

School scores

Neck and neck

Philadelphia and Lincoln are about even on school scores.

Philadelphia

A- · 84/100

Lincoln

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Philadelphia, 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

13% more comfortable

Philadelphia weather is 13% more comfortable than Lincoln

Philadelphia

Winner

75°F typical

Lincoln

79°F typical

What this means for your life

Philadelphia scores 13% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 75°F in Philadelphia and 79°F in Lincoln. Philadelphia reads as warm weather most of the year; Lincoln reads as warm weather most of the year. The comfort edge is real but not a personality transplant. If you already know you want Lincoln's season, a modest index lead should not talk you out of it. If you are undecided, Philadelphia is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Fit check

Who should choose Philadelphia

Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing

Pick Philadelphia if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (75°F) beat Lincoln on this page's weather index by 13%. Lincoln may pay more or cost less, but Philadelphia is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Open the Philadelphia report →

Fit check

Who should choose Lincoln

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 37% 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 city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 18% higher here ($67,846). 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 7% lower than Philadelphia (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

Philadelphia vs Lincoln, called

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

If weather matters more to you, Philadelphia pulls ahead.

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

Common questions

Philadelphia vs Lincoln FAQ

Is Philadelphia cheaper than Lincoln?: No. Lincoln is cheaper: typical rent is $1,141 a month versus $1,810 in Philadelphia — 37% lower. Median household income is $57,537 in Philadelphia compared with $67,846 in Lincoln, so Lincoln has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Philadelphia or Lincoln?: Lincoln is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 70 versus 75 in Philadelphia — 7% 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, Philadelphia or Lincoln?: School composites are close: A- in Philadelphia and A- in Lincoln. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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