In Lexington, a typical home is worth $159,100 and typical rent is $966 a month. Compared with all of Dawson County, the share of households that own their home is 9 points lower.
Typical home value from Zillow, September 2021 to September 2026: from $161,169 to $197,406.
From Zillow (ZHVI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).
Lexington is in Dawson County. The FHA loan limit ($603,750 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Dawson County. See the county
What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.
1
Lexington has the 2nd smallest share of rent-burdened renters of the 33 cities in Nebraska with more than 5,000 people (27%).
2
According to Zillow, in the 12 months to September 2026 the typical home value in Lexington fell 2.8%; in Nebraska, it rose 3%.
3
57% of households in Lexington own their home, against 66% in Dawson County.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024); Zillow (September 2026 data). Zillow data
The homes here
Housing in Lexington
What homes there are in Lexington, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).
What homes there are
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Kind of home
Detached houseAttached houseBuilding of 2 to 4Apartments (5 or more)Mobile homeBoat, RV and otherUnreliable estimate
Lexington
Dawson County
Nebraska
United States
Kind of home: Lexington and its comparisons
Measure
Lexington
Dawson County
Nebraska
United States
Detached house
63%
76%
71%
61%
Attached house
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
4%
6%
Building of 2 to 4
Unreliable estimate
4%
4%
8%
Apartments (5 or more)
Unreliable estimate
11%
17%
19%
Mobile home
8%
8%
3%
6%
Boat, RV and other
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
0%
0%
In Lexington, 6 in 10 homes are single-family detached houses; in Dawson County, 8.
Year built
Before 19601960–19791980–19992000–20092010 or later
Lexington
Dawson County
Nebraska
United States
Year built: Lexington and its comparisons
Measure
Lexington
Dawson County
Nebraska
United States
Before 1960
31%
38%
32%
26%
1960–1979
31%
30%
25%
24%
1980–1999
21%
18%
20%
25%
2000–2009
8%
9%
12%
14%
2010 or later
9%
6%
11%
11%
Homes in Lexington are newer: the typical year built is 1973; in Dawson County, 1969.
What it costs here
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Value of owner-occupied homes
Unreliable estimate
Under $100K26%
$100K–$200K41%
$200K–$300K23%
$300K–$500KUnreliable
$500K–$750KUnreliable
$750K–$1MUnreliable
$1M or moreUnreliable
Value of owner-occupied homes: Lexington and its comparisons
Measure
Lexington
Under $100K
26%
$100K–$200K
41%
$200K–$300K
23%
$300K–$500K
Unreliable estimate
$500K–$750K
Unreliable estimate
$750K–$1M
Unreliable estimate
$1M or more
Unreliable estimate
Monthly rent with utilities
Unreliable estimate
Under $500Unreliable
$500–$99952%
$1,000–$1,49934%
$1,500–$1,999Unreliable
$2,000–$2,499Unreliable
$2,500–$2,999Unreliable
$3,000 or moreUnreliable
Monthly rent with utilities: Lexington and its comparisons
Measure
Lexington
Under $500
Unreliable estimate
$500–$999
52%
$1,000–$1,499
34%
$1,500–$1,999
Unreliable estimate
$2,000–$2,499
Unreliable
$2,500–$2,999
Unreliable
$3,000 or more
Unreliable
With a mortgage
$1,207 a month
Dawson County: $1,420 a month
Without a mortgage
$593 a month
Dawson County: $579 a month
Owners with a mortgage
42%
Dawson County: 47%
Owning costs less in Lexington: with a mortgage, the typical cost is $1,207 a month; in Dawson County, $1,420. Without one, $593.
How it changed
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024
Change since 2015–2019
Typical home value
Lexington+72%
Dawson County+62%
Nebraska+53%
United States+53%
Typical rent
Lexington+26%
Dawson County+27%
Nebraska+29%
United States+33%
Typical household income
Lexington+28%
Dawson County+30%
Nebraska+25%
United States+29%
Change since 2015–2019: Lexington and its comparisons
Measure
Lexington
Dawson County
Nebraska
United States
Typical home value
+72%
+62%
+53%
+53%
Typical rent
+26%
+27%
+29%
+33%
Typical household income
+28%
+30%
+25%
+29%
From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, the typical home value in Lexington rose 72%; in Dawson County, it rose 62%.
The typical rent in Lexington rose 26% since 2015–2019, about the same as in Dawson County (27%).
The typical household income in Lexington rose 28% over that time; home values changed +72% and rent +26%.
How people live
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
How people live: Lexington and its comparisons
Measure
Lexington
Dawson County
Nebraska
United States
Rental vacancy
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
4.3%
5.5%
Homeowner vacancy
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
0.6%
0.9%
More than one person per room
14.1%
5.5%
2.1%
3.4%
People per household
3.09
2.62
2.42
2.53
Drive alone
73%
79%
76%
69%
Carpool
23%
15%
9%
9%
Public transit
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
1%
3%
Walk or bike
Unreliable estimate
2%
3%
3%
Work from home
Unreliable estimate
2%
11%
15%
Other means
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
1%
2%
Typical commute
10 to 19 minutes
10 to 19 minutes
10 to 19 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
More households are short on space in Lexington: 14.1% have more than one person per room; in Dawson County, 5.5%.
More people live in each home here: 3.09 on average, against 2.62 in Dawson County.
Carpooling is common in Lexington: 23% of workers get to work that way, against 15% in Dawson County.
Do the math
What would you pay each month for a home in Lexington?
A typical home is within reach of the typical income
We start with a typical home in Lexington, worth $159,100, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 24% of the typical household income in Lexington, which is $67,666 a year.
The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Dawson County.
Change the price, the down payment or the loan: the payment updates right away.
Your numbers
Local data
$
Starts at the typical home value in Lexington. Change it to the price you have in mind.
Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.
Down payment
%
That is $5,569 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.
This week's average ± a quarter or half point.
National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.
Adjust advanced details⌄
Estimated monthly payment
Local data
$1,361
at 7.18% · 30 years
Loan amount
$156,218
Total interest
$224,761
Paid off in
November 2056
Includes $2,687 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.
Does it fit the income?
Comfortable
up to $1,579 a month
Your payment · 24%
Tight
$1,579 to $2,030 a month
Hard
more than $2,030 a month
Compared with the typical household income in Lexington ($67,666 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.
Monthly payment breakdown
Principal & interest
$1,058
Property tax
$166
Home insurance
$66
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)
$70
You need at least $5,569 for the down payment, plus closing costs.
This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.
Total monthly payment $1,361; principal and interest $1,058.
The city and its county
Lexington and Dawson County
Lexington is in Dawson County, Nebraska. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).
Lexington
Map of Dawson County, Nebraska, with Lexington marked. Around it, the neighboring counties.
Lexington
Dawson County
Lexington's own numbers
Typical home value
$159,100
Typical monthly rent
$966
Typical yearly household income
$67,666
Households that own their home
57%
Effective property tax rate
1.25%
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).
Numbers for all of Dawson County
FHA limit, one-unit home
$603,750
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,074
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+45%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
3.6%
HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.
Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Dawson County.
A typical home in Lexington is worth $159,100: 4% below the county and 33% below Nebraska. With the typical household income in Lexington ($67,666 a year), a typical home costs 2.4 times what the household earns in a year.
Years of income to pay for a typical home
The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.
Lexington2.4 years
Dawson2.4 years
Nebraska3.1 years
United States4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024
How prices have changed in Dawson County
According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Dawson County rose 74% in the 10 years through 2025.
FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Dawson County.
Yearly change in FHFA’s price index in Dawson County, 2016 to 2025
2016: +0.2% +0.2% 2016
2017: +6.8% +6.8% 2017
2018: +4.0% +4.0% 2018
2019: +5.2% +5.2% 2019
2020: +2.7% +2.7% 2020
2021: +9.3% +9.3% 2021
2022: +11.1% +11.1% 2022
2023: +15.2% +15.2% 2023
2024: +3.5% +3.5% 2024
2025: −0.0% −0.0% 2025
Change in FHFA’s price index in Dawson County, Nebraska and the United States
Period
County
Nebraska
U.S.
Last year (2025)
−0.0%
+3.3%
+2.9%
5 years (2020–2025)
+45%
+49%
+47%
10 years (2015–2025)
+74%
+87%
+85%
The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data
Lexington next to Dawson County, Nebraska and the U.S.
Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.
Typical home value
Lexington$159,100
Dawson$166,200
Nebraska$238,600
United States$332,700
Typical monthly rent
Lexington$966
Dawson$925
Nebraska$1,072
United States$1,413
Typical yearly household income
Lexington$67,666
Dawson$69,880
Nebraska$76,475
United States$80,734
See the full table
Lexington next to Dawson County and Nebraska
Measure
Lexington
Dawson County
Nebraska
U.S.
Typical home value
$159,100 ▼4% below the county
$166,200
$238,600
$332,700
Typical monthly rent
$966 ▲4% above the county
$925
$1,072
$1,413
Typical yearly household income
$67,666 ▼3% below the county
$69,880
$76,475
$80,734
Households that own their home
57% ▼9 points below the county
66%
67%
65%
Typical yearly property tax
$1,985 ▼9% below the county
$2,172
$3,549
$3,119
Effective property tax rate
1.25% ▼0.06 points below the county
1.31%
1.49%
0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income
27% ▼5 points below the county
32%
45%
51%
“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Dawson County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Lexington
For a typical $159,100 home in Lexington, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Lexington's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.
FHA, 3.5% down$1,361a month
Least cash to close
Down payment
$5,569
Cash to close
$10,342
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
FHA MIP · $70
Conventional, 5% down$1,332a month
Down payment
$7,955
Cash to close
$12,728
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
PMI · $76
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI$1,094a month
Down payment
$31,820
Cash to close
$36,593
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
ITIN, 15% down (example)$1,241a month
Down payment
$23,865
Cash to close
$28,638
Rate
8.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Lexington
Loan
Monthly payment
Down payment
Loan amount
Rate
Mortgage insurance
Cash to close
Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down Least cash to close
$1,361
$5,569
$156,218
7.18%
FHA MIP · $70
$10,342
580
Conventional, 5% down
$1,332
$7,955
$151,145
7.18%
PMI · $76
$12,728
620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI
$1,094
$31,820
$127,280
7.18%
None
$36,593
620*
ITIN, 15% down (example)
$1,241
$23,865
$135,235
8.18%
None
$28,638
Set by the lender
The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.
Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.
Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Lexington and for Dawson County.
Property tax
Effective rate in Lexington
1.25%of the home’s value each year
$1,985 a year for the typical owner in Lexington.
Lexington1.25%
Dawson1.31%
Nebraska1.49%
What Nebraska publishesHomestead exemption for seniors, people with disabilities and veterans (Nebraska Department of Revenue, Property Assessment Division)
Typical rent in Lexington is $966 a month: 4% above the county. In Lexington, 27% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Dawson County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,074 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $20.65 an hour working full time.
What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.
HUD fair market rent in Dawson County (Fiscal year 2027)
Size
Fair rent a month
Hourly wage
Yearly income
Studio
$778
$14.96
$31,120
1 bedroom
$883
$16.98
$35,320
2 bedrooms
$1,074
$20.65
$42,960
3 bedrooms
$1,355
$26.06
$54,200
4 bedrooms
$1,412
$27.15
$56,480
Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027
By ZIP code
Fair market rent by ZIP code in Lexington
HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Lexington is in ZIP code 68850.
For 2 bedrooms it is $1,110: $36 more than the fair market rent for Dawson County ($1,074).
Fair market rent by ZIP code and size in Lexington, fiscal year 2027.
ZIP code
Studio
1 bd
2 bd
3 bd
4 bd
68850
$800
$910
$1,110
$1,400
$1,460
ZIP code2 bd3 bd
68850 $1,110$1,400
1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Lexington when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD)Fiscal year 2027Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site)Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship fileData from 2020 dataCensus Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (external site)
You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.
We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Dawson County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.
No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Lexington or Dawson County. The ones below are statewide in Nebraska: they work in Lexington the same as in the rest of the state.
Nebraska state authority program for first-time buyers: a NIFA mortgage plus a second mortgage of up to 5% of the price at 1%, over 10 years, for the down payment and closing costs.Offered by Nebraska Investment Finance Authority (NIFA).
Nebraska state authority option that adds a second loan for the down payment and closing costs to the Welcome Home mortgage, for first-time buyers and for people who have owned a home before; the page does not state the amount.Offered by Nebraska Investment Finance Authority (NIFA).
No legal help resource on our list is for Lexington or Dawson County in particular.
If you have a problem with your landlord, an eviction notice or a scam, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) search shows the free legal aid offices that serve your area.
Short answers with the numbers for Lexington and all of Dawson County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.
How much does a typical home cost in Lexington?
The typical home value in Lexington is $159,100, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Dawson County it is $166,200.
How much does it cost to rent in Lexington?
Typical rent in Lexington is $966 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Dawson County is $1,074.
What is the FHA loan limit in Lexington?
Lexington uses the FHA limit for all of Dawson County (2026): $603,750 for a one-unit home and $1,161,050 for a four-unit home.
How much property tax do owners pay in Lexington?
The typical homeowner in Lexington pays $1,985 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.25% of the home’s value; in Dawson County, the rate is 1.31%.
Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Lexington?
We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Dawson County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.
