What are the schools like in Lincoln, NE?

Lincoln is served primarily by LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS. The district operates 41 elementary schools, 14 middle schools, and 16 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.9:1.

What is the median household income in Lincoln?

The median household income in Lincoln, NE is $67,846 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 3.3%.

What is the weather like in Lincoln, NE?

Lincoln has an average high temperature of 35.6°F in January and 89.4°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 30.9 inches and annual snowfall averages 26.0 inches.

Lincoln, NE Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Lincoln, NE affordable or expensive?

Lincoln's cost of living index is 92, where 100 represents the national average. This means Lincoln is 8% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $230,400 and the median rent is $998 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Lincoln, NE?

Lincoln has a violent crime rate of 347.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2445.8 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Lincoln, NE a Good Place to Live?

Lincoln is a large city of 290,531 in Nebraska, with a median household income of $67,846 and a 3.3% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is 8% below the national average.

Strengths: Lincoln stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B+), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Lincoln is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Lincoln city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 92.0

Lincoln's overall cost of living index is 92.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Lincoln costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.

Metric	Lincoln, NE	National Avg
Median Home Value	$230,400	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$998	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	56.3%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$67,846	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Lincoln's violent crime rate is 347.9 per 100,000 residents — 8% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

347.9 /100k

Property Crime

2445.8 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Lincoln is served primarily by LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.9:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Lincoln, NE	National Avg
School District	LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS	—
Elementary Schools	41	—
Middle Schools	14	—
High Schools	16	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.9:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	40.9%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	92.9%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Lincoln sees average highs of 35.6°F in January and 89.4°F in July, with 30.9 inches of annual precipitation and 26.0 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Lincoln, NE
Average High — January	35.6°F
Average High — July	89.4°F
Annual Precipitation	30.9"
Annual Snowfall	26.0"

Demographics

Metric	Lincoln, NE	National Avg
Population	290,531	—
Median Age	33.1	38.9
Unemployment Rate	3.3%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	18.6 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	82.0%	59.3%
Black or African American	4.1%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	4.4%	18.9%
Asian	4.5%	6.3%
Under 18	22.0%	22.2%
65 and over	14.0%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Yankee Hill, NE 4 mi Walton, NE 6 mi Cheney, NE 7 mi Emerald, NE 8 mi Prairie Home, NE 9 mi

ZIP Codes in Lincoln

Lincoln, NE is covered by 21 ZIP codes:

68516 68521 68524 68507 68506 68504 68502 68512 68510 68522 68528 68505 68526 68508 68503 68514 68430 68527 68517 68588 68531

Lincoln vs Other Cities

Lincoln, NE vs Yankee Hill, NE Lincoln, NE vs Walton, NE Lincoln, NE vs Cheney, NE Lincoln, NE vs Emerald, NE Lincoln, NE vs Prairie Home, NE

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lincoln, NE affordable or expensive?

Lincoln's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average. That makes Lincoln roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $230,400 and median rent is $998/month.

What is the crime rate in Lincoln, NE?

Lincoln's violent crime rate is 347.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2445.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Lincoln?

Public schools in Lincoln are operated by LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS. The district has 41 elementary, 14 middle, and 16 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.9:1. 40.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Lincoln, NE a good place to live?

Lincoln, NE has a population of 290,531, a median household income of $67,846, and an unemployment rate of 3.3%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Lincoln?

Lincoln averages 35.6°F in January and 89.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 30.9 inches with about 26.0 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Lincoln?

Lincoln, NE is covered by 21 ZIP codes: 68516, 68521, 68524, 68507, 68506, 68504, 68502, 68512, 68510, 68522, 68528, 68505, 68526, 68508, 68503, 68514, 68430, 68527, 68517, 68588, 68531.

What is the population of Lincoln?

The population of Lincoln, Nebraska is 290,531 with a median age of 33.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Lincoln?

Key numbers for living in Lincoln: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $230,400, median household income $67,846, crime index 102 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Lincoln side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.