Lincoln, NE Relocation Guide (2026)
Cost of living, housing, and income data for Lincoln, sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Salary needed to live in Lincoln →
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Last updated July 2026.
Roughly 290,531 people call Lincoln, Nebraska home. Household income runs $67,846 at the median, roughly in line with what we see across the broader set of cities (-6%).
Housing costs are a defining factor for anyone relocating to Lincoln. The median home value sits at $230,400 (below the multi-city median at -29%), while renters pay a median of $998 per month. Buyers should weigh current mortgage rates and local property taxes against these figures before committing.
With home values running about 3.4× median income, Lincoln lands on the affordable side of the housing-cost spectrum. Prices in the area have gained 3.55% year over year, a moderate pace that suggests a stable market around Lincoln. Climate and natural-hazard risk in Lincoln runs on the lower side, per FEMA's Relatively Moderate rating.
Personal Affordability Check
Renting at $998/mo in Lincoln would take 17.7% of your income.
$698/mo under the 30% guideline.
Buying the median home ($230,400) would take 21.8% of your income toward principal & interest.
$353/mo under the 28% guideline.
Cost of housing in Lincoln
Median home value is $230,400 and median gross rent is $998/month. For buyers, monthly costs depend heavily on current mortgage rates — worth checking before you commit.
FHFA's county-level home price index for Lancaster rose 3.55% over the past year (as of 2025).
HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom unit in the surrounding county is $1,141/month.
Climate & home insurance
FEMA rates Lincoln's overall natural-hazard risk as Relatively Moderate. Risk level is a major driver of home insurance premiums.
Safety
Lincoln reported a violent crime rate of 426.9 per 100,000 residents in 2025, per FBI data.
Moving to Lincoln
Planning a move to Lincoln? Compare licensed movers and get quotes based on your origin and move date.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Lincoln, NE?
- For a quick read on Lincoln: homes carry a median value of $230,400, rent runs a median $998 monthly, and household income is a median $67,846, all from the US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022).
- How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Lincoln?
- Comfortably affording rent in Lincoln — where the median runs $998/month — typically means earning about $39,920 a year, per the standard 30%-of-income benchmark. See the full salary breakdown (renting and buying) for Lincoln.
- Is it better to rent or buy in Lincoln?
- Renting in Lincoln at the median $998/month calls for about $39,920 a year under the standard 30% guideline; buying the median home at $230,400 takes roughly $52,714 a year in principal and interest (20% down, 30-year fixed, current rates). Timeline and down payment usually decide which makes more sense.
- Is Lincoln safe?
- Lincoln's violent crime rate, per FBI reporting for 2025, stands at 426.9 per 100,000 residents.
See the full salary breakdown for Lincoln →
Cities with a similar cost of living
Matched on median rent and household income within 15% of Lincoln's.