Lincoln, Nebraska
Cost of living, housing, income, commute, climate, and safety — compiled for relocators researching Lincoln, NE.
MapsToIt planning snapshot
How much does it cost to live in Lincoln, NE?
Lincoln planning snapshot: population 300,619, housing index 80 (among the more affordable large markets in this catalog), median home $248,200, median rent $1,045, and income near $69,991. Expect 87°F summer highs, 17°F winter lows, and about 18-minute one-way commutes. Violent-offense rates run about 383 per 100k (catalog avg 559.5).
Crime figures may use an older source vintage than housing and income on this page.
- Housing cost index
- 80U.S. avg 100
- Median home value
- $248,200U.S. $303,400
- Median rent
- $1,045U.S. $1,348
- Median income
- $69,991U.S. $78,538
- Unemployment
- 2.6%U.S. 4.2%
- Avg commute
- 18 minCatalog avg 25 min
- Violent crime
- 383per 100k · catalog avg 559.5
- Summer high
- 87°FCatalog avg 87°F
Key figures
Each metric shows how Lincoln compares with a U.S. baseline (ACS/BLS nationals) or a MapsToIt catalog average (crime, climate, and commute). Income, housing, population, and crime are for the incorporated city (city limits), not the broader metro/MSA — unemployment is county-level (BLS LAUS).
- Population
- 300,619City limits · Census PEP 2024 estimate
As of 2026-10-19 · Census PEP 2024 - Median household income
- $69,991Incorporated place (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year11% below U.S. avgU.S. $78,538 - Housing cost index
- 80ACS home+rent vs U.S. (100 = avg)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year20% below U.S. avgU.S. 100 - Median home value
- $248,200City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year18% below U.S. avgU.S. $303,400 - Median rent
- $1,045City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year22% below U.S. avgU.S. $1,348 - Unemployment
- 2.6%County LAUS · not city-only
As of 2026-10-19 · July 20261.6 pts below U.S. rateU.S. 4.2% - Avg commute
- 18 min28% below catalog avgCatalog avg 25 min
- Walk Score
- 4011% below catalog avgCatalog avg 45
- Violent crime rate
- 383per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback) · older data (2019)32% below catalog avgCatalog avg 559.5 - Property crime rate
- 2750.7per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback) · older data (2019)8% below catalog avgCatalog avg 3005.3 - Summer high
- 87°FAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normalsNear catalog avg (87°F)Catalog avg 87°F
- Winter low
- 17°FAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals18.0 pts below catalog avgCatalog avg 35°F
- Annual rainfall
- 29.3 inAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals12% below catalog avgCatalog avg 33.2 in
- Sunny days
- 270As of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normalsNear catalog avg (268)Catalog avg 268
Population trend
Lincoln grew 15.9% from 259,455 in 2010 to 300,619 in 2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024). Playback steps monthly between annual Census PEP estimates.
Is Lincoln, NE expensive compared to the U.S. average?
Lincoln's housing cost index is 80 versus 100 nationally — among the more affordable large markets in this catalog. That gap is driven mainly by ACS median home values ($248,200 vs $303,400) and rents ($1,045 vs $1,348).
- Housing cost index 80 (U.S. 100)
- Median home $248,200 vs U.S. $303,400
- Median rent $1,045 vs U.S. $1,348
How much does housing cost in Lincoln, NE?
Typical ownership costs center near $248,200, while median gross rent is about $1,045 a month. Against a median household income of $69,991, rent alone is roughly 18% of income on an annualized basis.
- Median home value $248,200
- Median rent $1,045/month
- Median household income $69,991
What is the job market like in Lincoln, NE?
County unemployment recently ran 2.6% versus a U.S. rate of 4.2%. Median household income in Lincoln is about $69,991 (U.S. $78,538).
- Unemployment 2.6% (U.S. 4.2%)
- Median income $69,991
How long is the typical commute in Lincoln, NE?
Average one-way commute time is about 18 minutes, with Walk Score near 40/100. The catalog-city average commute is 25 minutes.
- 18 minutes average one-way
- Walk Score 40/100
Is Lincoln, NE safer than similar U.S. cities?
Published violent-offense rates are about 383 per 100k and property about 2750.7 per 100k, versus catalog averages of 559.5 and 3005.3. Citywide rates hide large neighborhood differences.
- Violent 383 per 100k
- Property 2750.7 per 100k
What is the climate like year-round in Lincoln, NE?
Normals show summer highs near 87°F, winter lows near 17°F, about 29.3 inches of rain, and roughly 270 sunny days a year.
- Summer high 87°F
- Winter low 17°F
- 29.3 in rain · 270 sunny days
Plains weather extremes and a steady agribusiness economy set expectations. Winter lows around 17°F mean heating costs and snow logistics belong on the checklist. Average one-way commute time is about 18 minutes, and Walk Score estimates land around 40/100. A recent county unemployment reading near 2.6% suggests a relatively tight local labor market. Violent-offense rates around 383 per 100k are moderate for a large U.S. city, with meaningful variation by neighborhood.
Lincoln (pop. 300,619) sits in Nebraska. With median income around $69,991 and a cost index of 80, the market reads among the more affordable large markets in this catalog on housing costs. Ownership is a high bar — typical values near $248,200 push many newcomers toward renting first.
Lincoln is compact enough that a single wrong neighborhood choice is easy to feel day to day — visit at commute hour before signing. Figures on this page are merged from Census ACS, BLS LAUS, FBI crime figures, and NOAA Climate Normals — use them to compare Lincoln with nearby alternatives before you relocate.
Nearby & similar cities
Continue researching with these internal links — each page is a full data profile.
Sources
- Census / ACS: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 5-year (Lincoln city, 1600000US3128000) — As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year
- BLS: BLS LAUS · Lancaster County, July 2026 — As of 2026-10-19 · July 2026
- Crime: FBI CIUS Table 8 (2019), city offenses per 100k — As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)
- Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 Monthly Normals (USW00014939 LINCOLN MUNI AP) — As of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals
- Population trend: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024) — As of 2026-10-19 · Census PEP 2024
Catalog refreshed 2026-10-19