Lincoln vs Omaha
Compare Lincoln, NE and Omaha, NE on cost, HUD rent, safety, climate, commute, schools, outdoor access, food, and source-labeled relocation data.
The verdict
Housing costs are close: ACS median rent is $994/mo in Lincoln and $1,101/mo in Omaha, with HUD 2-bedroom benchmarks of $1,067/mo and $1,170/mo. Across the four public-data screens (cost/climate, work, daily life, community) the metros land close together (245 vs 246 summed points), so the right pick depends on which tradeoffs you can live with.
Their climates screen similarly — summer highs near 89°F and 87°F respectively. If lower housing cost leads your list, start with Lincoln; if walkable daily life matters more, Lincoln screens stronger on the walkability proxy (14 vs 10). These are metro-level public-data screens — verify neighborhoods, school districts, commutes, and actual listings before deciding.
Category summary
Lincoln leads 66 to 63 on the cost and climate screen.
Both cities are close on the work screen.
Lincoln leads 42 to 39 on the daily life screen.
Omaha leads 67 to 59 on the community screen.
$85,000 in Lincoln is roughly $85,000 in Omaha using WhereToThrive's cost index and state-tax adjustment.
Category comparison
| Metric | Lincoln | Omaha | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACS median gross rent | $994/mo | $1,101/mo | Lincoln |
| HUD 2BR FMR | $1,067/mo | $1,170/mo | Lincoln |
| Median home value | $238,000 | $230,000 | Omaha |
| State income tax | 4.5% | 4.5% | Tie |
| Average commute | 20.7 min | 22.4 min | Lincoln |
| Safety score | 60/100 | 66/100 | Omaha |
| School score | 8/10 | 8/10 | Tie |
| Walkability estimate | 14/100 | 10/100 | Lincoln |
| Outdoor score | 6/10 | 6/10 | Tie |
| Restaurants per 100k | 184.6 | 175.1 | Lincoln |
| Mountain distance | 245 mi | 246 mi | Lincoln |
| Coast distance | 768 mi | 790 mi | Lincoln |
| Climate-risk composite (FEMA NRI) | 50/100 | 40/100 | Lincoln |
| Heat wave risk percentile (NRI) | 22th | 82th | Lincoln |
| Inland flooding risk percentile (NRI) | 14th | 48th | Lincoln |
| Winter weather risk percentile (NRI) | 95th | 80th | Omaha |
What stands out
Lincoln stronger signals
- Public park/protected-area signal within 1 miles
- Ski location within 59 miles
- Strong education proxy
- More affordable than many peer metros
Lincoln tradeoffs
- Cold winters
Omaha stronger signals
- Public park/protected-area signal within 1 miles
- Ski location within 10 miles
- Strong education proxy
- More affordable than many peer metros
Omaha tradeoffs
- Cold winters
Common questions
Is Lincoln cheaper than Omaha?
On public benchmarks Lincoln is the cheaper metro: ACS median rent is $994/mo in Lincoln vs $1,101/mo in Omaha; HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents are $1,067/mo vs $1,170/mo; state income tax is 4.5% vs 4.5%.
Is Lincoln or Omaha safer?
Omaha screens safer at the metro level: safety scores are 60/100 for Lincoln and 66/100 for Omaha (FBI-reported metro rates; neighborhood variation is larger than metro averages).
Which is better for families, Lincoln or Omaha?
School screens show 8/10 for Lincoln vs 8/10 for Omaha, alongside the safety scores above. Both screen similarly — district-level research will matter more than the metro gap.
How different is the climate between Lincoln and Omaha?
Lincoln: summer highs near 89°F, winter lows near 10°F, disaster-risk band 2/3. Omaha: 87°F / 6°F, disaster-risk band 2/3 (NOAA climate normals).
Keep researching
Score this comparison with your own constraints
Public comparison pages use equal-weighted signals. The questionnaire reweights cities around your housing budget, climate preferences, work needs, family needs, and daily-life priorities.
Start City Match