Is Tampa cheaper than Lincoln?

No. Lincoln is cheaper: typical rent is $1,141 a month versus $1,977 in Tampa — 42% lower. Median household income is $66,802 in Tampa compared with $67,846 in Lincoln, so Lincoln has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Tampa or Lincoln?

Tampa is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 69 versus 70 in Lincoln — 1% 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, Tampa or Lincoln?

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

New search

City comparison

Tampa, FL vs Lincoln, NE

Tampa, FL 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 $1,977 a month in Tampa and $1,141 in Lincoln, and median household income lands at $66,802 versus $67,846. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Tampa takes safety, while Lincoln takes affordability, job market, and weather. The widest gap is rent, where Lincoln leads by 42% — 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 Tampa can feel further apart than Tampa and Lincoln do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Tampa and Lincoln reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Tampa report Full Lincoln report

Tampa, FL

Rent: $1,977/mo
Median income: $66,802
Crime index: 69
Schools: A-
Weather: 85°F

Lincoln, NE

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

Rent

42% cheaper

Lincoln rent is 42% cheaper than Tampa

Tampa

$1,977/mo

Lincoln

Winner

$1,141/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,141 a month in Lincoln versus $1,977 in Tampa, so Lincoln is 42% cheaper. That's roughly $836/month back in your pocket — $10,032/year. Over five years that's $50,160 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 Tampa, 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

2% higher

Lincoln's median income is 2% higher than Tampa

Tampa

$66,802

Lincoln

Winner

$67,846

What this means for your life

Median household income is $67,846 in Lincoln versus $66,802 in Tampa, so typical pay runs 2% higher in Lincoln — about $1,044 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

1% lower crime

Tampa's crime index is 1% lower than Lincoln

Tampa

Winner

69 (100 = avg)

Lincoln

70 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Tampa's crime index is 69 versus 70 in Lincoln (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 1% lower in Tampa. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Tampa, 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

Tampa and Lincoln are about even on school scores.

Tampa

A- · 84/100

Lincoln

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Tampa, 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

24% more comfortable

Lincoln weather is 24% more comfortable than Tampa

Tampa

85°F typical

Lincoln

Winner

79°F typical

What this means for your life

Lincoln scores 24% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 85°F in Tampa and 79°F in Lincoln. Tampa reads as hot, long summers; 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. Lincoln is the better default if you want year-round outdoor access. Tampa 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 Tampa

Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy

Tampa is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 1% lower than Lincoln (69 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 Tampa report →

Fit check

Who should choose Lincoln

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

Lincoln is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 42% 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.

It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 2% higher ($67,846), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two — around 79°F. That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.

Open the Lincoln report →

Bottom line

Tampa vs Lincoln, called

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

If safety matters more to you, Tampa pulls ahead.

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

Common questions

Tampa vs Lincoln FAQ

Is Tampa cheaper than Lincoln?: No. Lincoln is cheaper: typical rent is $1,141 a month versus $1,977 in Tampa — 42% lower. Median household income is $66,802 in Tampa compared with $67,846 in Lincoln, so Lincoln has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Tampa or Lincoln?: Tampa is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 69 versus 70 in Lincoln — 1% 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, Tampa or Lincoln?: School composites are close: A- in Tampa and A- in Lincoln. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

Ready to move to Lincoln?

Find apartments →Get a mortgage rate →

Next steps