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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Lincoln, NE has a Safety Score of 23/100 — higher crime than 77% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 2,795.1 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,295 of 2,971 US cities and #13 of 16 in Nebraska.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Lincoln, Nebraska Safe?
Lincoln, Nebraska, the state capital, is home to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, known for its Cornhuskers football. This city of over 290,000 residents lies in the southeastern part of the state.
Lincoln has a safety score of 23/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 2,795.1 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Lincoln ranks #13 out of 16 cities in Nebraska and #2295 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 23rd percentile for safety — with higher crime than 77% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Lincoln is rape, at 63.6 per 100K — 1.5x the national average. Conversely, murder is relatively low at just 0.4x the national rate.
Year over year, Lincoln's total crime rate decreased by 8.4%, with violent crime declining 4.6%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Lincoln Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 1,033 | 349.2 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 8 | 2.7 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 188 | 63.6 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 120 | 40.6 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 713 | 241.0 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 7,235 | 2,445.8 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 776 | 262.3 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 5,513 | 1,863.7 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 946 | 319.8 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Lincoln vs Nebraska Average
How does Lincoln's crime rate compare to the Nebraska state average?
| Metric | Lincoln | Nebraska Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 349.2 | 312.5 | +11.7% |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,445.8 | 2,466.0 | -0.8% |
| Murder Rate | 2.7 | 2.6 | +3.1% |
| Total Crime Rate | 2,795.1 | 2,778.5 | +0.6% |
Lincoln Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Lincoln, Nebraska.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 295,808 | 2,795.1 | 349.2 | 2,445.8 |
| 2023 | 293,155 | 3,052.3 | 366.0 | 2,686.3 |
| 2022 | 293,937 | 3,245.3 | 394.6 | 2,850.6 |
| 2021 | 293,808 | 3,168.7 | 429.5 | 2,739.2 |
| 2020 | 292,600 | 2,815.8 | 373.2 | 2,442.6 |
| 2019 | 291,128 | 3,133.7 | 383.0 | 2,750.7 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lincoln, Nebraska safe?
Lincoln has a safety score of 23/100, meaning it has less crime than about 23% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 2,795.1 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Lincoln is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Lincoln, Nebraska?
According to FBI data for 2024, Lincoln has a violent crime rate of 349.2 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 2,445.8 per 100,000 residents.
How does Lincoln compare to the national average?
Lincoln's total crime rate of 2,795.1 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 295,808 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Lincoln?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Lincoln include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Lincoln safe to visit?
Like any city, Lincoln has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 23/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.