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Nebraska city profile

What Is It Like to Live in Lincoln?

What it costs to live in Lincoln, and how it compares with other Nebraska cities, in plain numbers.

Value score

28

10th best value in Nebraska

How much you get for what you pay, versus other Nebraska cities.

Overall livability

37

9th overall in Nebraska

Cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life combined.

Lincoln is home to about 289,136 people. A typical home runs $193,800 and a household earns around $62,600, a price-to-income ratio of 3.1. Among Nebraska's largest cities, it ranks 10th for value and 9th overall.

Lincoln at a glance

Median home price

$193,800

11th in NE of 12

Median rent

$920/mo

Median household income

$62,600

Home price to income

3.1x

Unemployment

3.4%

5th in NE of 12

School rating

5/10

5th in NE of 12

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in NE of 12

Walk score

35/100

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‹ See all top Nebraska cities ranked  ยท  Nebraska state profile ›

Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income, unemployment and commute from the U.S. Census; school ratings from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. City rankings are within Nebraska only. Updated 2026.