Is Raleigh cheaper than Lincoln?

No. Lincoln is cheaper: typical rent is $1,141 a month versus $1,750 in Raleigh — 35% lower. Median household income is $78,631 in Raleigh compared with $67,846 in Lincoln, so Raleigh has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Raleigh or Lincoln?

Lincoln is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 70 versus 97 in Raleigh — 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, Raleigh or Lincoln?

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

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City comparison

Raleigh, NC vs Lincoln, NE

Raleigh, 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 $1,750 a month in Raleigh and $1,141 in Lincoln, and median household income lands at $78,631 versus $67,846. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Raleigh takes job market, while Lincoln takes affordability and safety. The widest gap is rent, where Lincoln leads by 35% — 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 Raleigh can feel further apart than Raleigh and Lincoln do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Raleigh and Lincoln reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Raleigh report Full Lincoln report

Raleigh, NC

Rent: $1,750/mo
Median income: $78,631
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

35% cheaper

Lincoln rent is 35% cheaper than Raleigh

Raleigh

$1,750/mo

Lincoln

Winner

$1,141/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,141 a month in Lincoln versus $1,750 in Raleigh, so Lincoln is 35% cheaper. That's roughly $609/month back in your pocket — $7,308/year. Over five years that's $36,540 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 Raleigh, 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

16% higher

Raleigh's median income is 16% higher than Lincoln

Raleigh

Winner

$78,631

Lincoln

$67,846

What this means for your life

Median household income is $78,631 in Raleigh versus $67,846 in Lincoln, so typical pay runs 16% higher in Raleigh — about $10,785 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, Raleigh 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

28% lower crime

Lincoln's crime index is 28% lower than Raleigh

Raleigh

97 (100 = avg)

Lincoln

Winner

70 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Lincoln's crime index is 70 versus 97 in Raleigh (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. Raleigh can still work if you pick the right pocket — just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.

School scores

Neck and neck

Raleigh and Lincoln are about even on school scores.

Raleigh

A- · 84/100

Lincoln

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Raleigh, 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

Raleigh and Lincoln are about even on typical weather.

Raleigh

79°F typical

Lincoln

79°F typical

What this means for your life

Outdoor comfort is close between Raleigh and Lincoln. Typical temperatures sit around 79°F in Raleigh 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 Raleigh

Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth

Raleigh is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 16% higher here ($78,631). Start with Raleigh if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.

Open the Raleigh 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 35% 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 Raleigh (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

Raleigh vs Lincoln, called

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

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

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

Common questions

Raleigh vs Lincoln FAQ

Is Raleigh cheaper than Lincoln?: No. Lincoln is cheaper: typical rent is $1,141 a month versus $1,750 in Raleigh — 35% lower. Median household income is $78,631 in Raleigh compared with $67,846 in Lincoln, so Raleigh has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Raleigh or Lincoln?: Lincoln is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 70 versus 97 in Raleigh — 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, Raleigh or Lincoln?: School composites are close: A- in Raleigh and A- in Lincoln. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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