City · 294,856 residents · Lancaster County, Nebraska
Lincoln, Nebraska
In Lincoln, a typical home is worth $264,000 and typical rent is $1,086 a month. Home values, rent and income are very close to those of all of Lancaster County.
Typical home value from Zillow, September 2021 to September 2026: from $235,811 to $291,408.
Typical rent
$1,278a month
▲ 1.6% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent from Zillow, September 2021 to September 2026: from $1,023 to $1,278.
From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).
Lincoln is in Lancaster County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Lancaster County. See the county
What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.
1
Nearby, in Beatrice, the typical home value is $159,300: 40% less than in Lincoln ($264,000).
2
Nearby, in Beatrice, the typical rent is $758: 30% less than in Lincoln ($1,086).
3
Lincoln has the 3rd highest typical home value of the 33 cities in Nebraska with more than 5,000 people ($264,000).
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).
The homes here
Housing in Lincoln
What homes there are in Lincoln, 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
Lincoln
Lancaster County
Nebraska
United States
Kind of home: Lincoln and its comparisons
Measure
Lincoln
Lancaster County
Nebraska
United States
Detached house
56%
59%
71%
61%
Attached house
8%
8%
4%
6%
Building of 2 to 4
6%
6%
4%
8%
Apartments (5 or more)
29%
26%
17%
19%
Mobile home
2%
1%
3%
6%
Boat, RV and other
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
0%
0%
Detached houses are the majority in Lincoln (56%), but less so than in Lancaster County (59%).
Year built
Before 19601960–19791980–19992000–20092010 or later
Lincoln
Lancaster County
Nebraska
United States
Year built: Lincoln and its comparisons
Measure
Lincoln
Lancaster County
Nebraska
United States
Before 1960
25%
24%
32%
26%
1960–1979
22%
23%
25%
24%
1980–1999
24%
24%
20%
25%
2000–2009
14%
14%
12%
14%
2010 or later
15%
15%
11%
11%
The typical year built in Lincoln is 1982, about the same as in Lancaster County (1983).
Much as in Lancaster County, 55% of homes in Lincoln have 3 bedrooms or more.
What it costs here
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Value of owner-occupied homes
Under the limitOver the limit
Under $100K6%
$100K–$200K22%
$200K–$300K34%
$300K–$500K30%
$500K–$750K6%
FHA limit: $541,287
$750K–$1M1%
$1M or more1%
Value of owner-occupied homes: Lincoln and its comparisons
Measure
Lincoln
Under $100K
6%
$100K–$200K
22%
$200K–$300K
34%
$300K–$500K
30%
$500K–$750K
6%
$750K–$1M
1%
$1M or more
1%
About 92% of owner-occupied homes in Lincoln are worth less than the FHA loan limit for Lancaster County ($541,287).
Monthly rent with utilities
Under the limitOver the limit
Under $5004%
$500–$99939%
$1,000–$1,49938%
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms: $1,230
$1,500–$1,99914%
$2,000–$2,4994%
$2,500–$2,9991%
$3,000 or more2%
Monthly rent with utilities: Lincoln and its comparisons
Measure
Lincoln
Under $500
4%
$500–$999
39%
$1,000–$1,499
38%
$1,500–$1,999
14%
$2,000–$2,499
4%
$2,500–$2,999
1%
$3,000 or more
2%
Measured against HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent ($1,230), about 60% of rented homes in Lincoln cost less.
With a mortgage
$1,697 a month
Lancaster County: $1,742 a month
Without a mortgage
$708 a month
Lancaster County: $729 a month
Owners with a mortgage
64%
Lancaster County: 64%
In Lincoln, 64% of owners have a mortgage; their typical cost is $1,697 a month, about the same as in Lancaster County.
How it changed
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024
Change since 2015–2019
Typical home value
Lincoln+56%
Lancaster County+55%
Nebraska+53%
United States+53%
Typical rent
Lincoln+28%
Lancaster County+27%
Nebraska+29%
United States+33%
Typical household income
Lincoln+25%
Lancaster County+24%
Nebraska+25%
United States+29%
Change since 2015–2019: Lincoln and its comparisons
Measure
Lincoln
Lancaster County
Nebraska
United States
Typical home value
+56%
+55%
+53%
+53%
Typical rent
+28%
+27%
+29%
+33%
Typical household income
+25%
+24%
+25%
+29%
Much as in Lancaster County, the typical home value in Lincoln rose 56% since 2015–2019.
Rents in Lincoln rose at about the same pace as in Lancaster County: 28% since 2015–2019, against 27%.
Here income did not keep up with housing: it rose 25%, while home values changed +56% and rent +28%.
How people live
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
How people live: Lincoln and its comparisons
Measure
Lincoln
Lancaster County
Nebraska
United States
Rental vacancy
3.5%
3.5%
4.3%
5.5%
Homeowner vacancy
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
0.6%
0.9%
More than one person per room
2.4%
2.3%
2.1%
3.4%
People per household
2.30
2.34
2.42
2.53
Drive alone
74%
74%
76%
69%
Carpool
9%
8%
9%
9%
Public transit
1%
1%
1%
3%
Walk or bike
4%
4%
3%
3%
Work from home
11%
12%
11%
15%
Other means
1%
1%
1%
2%
Typical commute
10 to 19 minutes
10 to 19 minutes
10 to 19 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
Open rentals in Lincoln look like those in Lancaster County: the rental vacancy rate is 3.5%.
More than one person per room: that is how 2.4% of households in Lincoln live, near the figure in Lancaster County (2.3%).
A household in Lincoln has 2.30 people on average, about the same as in Lancaster County (2.34).
To get to work, 74% of workers in Lincoln drive alone; in Lancaster County, 74%.
Do the math
What would you pay each month for a home in Lincoln?
A typical home costs more than the typical income allows
We start with a typical home in Lincoln, worth $264,000, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 39% of the typical household income in Lincoln, which is $71,867 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $99,309 a year.
The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Lancaster 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 Lincoln. 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 $9,240 (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
$2,317
at 7.18% · 30 years
Loan amount
$259,218
Total interest
$372,954
Paid off in
November 2056
Includes $4,458 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.
Does it fit the income?
Comfortable
up to $1,677 a month
Tight
$1,677 to $2,156 a month
Hard
more than $2,156 a month
Your payment · 39%
Compared with the typical household income in Lincoln ($71,867 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.
Monthly payment breakdown
Principal & interest
$1,756
Property tax
$334
Home insurance
$110
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)
$117
You need at least $9,240 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 $2,317; principal and interest $1,756.
The city and its county
Lincoln and Lancaster County
Lincoln is in Lancaster 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).
Lincoln
Map of Lancaster County, Nebraska, with Lincoln marked. Around it, the neighboring counties.
Lincoln
Lancaster County
Other cities with a page
Lincoln's own numbers
Typical home value
$264,000
Typical monthly rent
$1,086
Typical yearly household income
$71,867
Households that own their home
56%
Effective property tax rate
1.52%
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).
Numbers for all of Lancaster County
FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,230
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+49%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
2.7%
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 Lancaster County.
A typical home in Lincoln is worth $264,000: 4% below the county and 11% above Nebraska. With the typical household income in Lincoln ($71,867 a year), a typical home costs 3.7 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.
Lincoln3.7 years
Lancaster3.7 years
Nebraska3.1 years
United States4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024
How prices have changed in Lancaster County
According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Lancaster County rose 90% in the 10 years through 2025.
FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Lancaster County.
Yearly change in FHFA’s price index in Lancaster County, 2016 to 2025
2016: +4.4% +4.4% 2016
2017: +7.0% +7.0% 2017
2018: +5.9% +5.9% 2018
2019: +4.3% +4.3% 2019
2020: +3.0% +3.0% 2020
2021: +11.3% +11.3% 2021
2022: +14.2% +14.2% 2022
2023: +8.5% +8.5% 2023
2024: +4.5% +4.5% 2024
2025: +3.6% +3.6% 2025
Change in FHFA’s price index in Lancaster County, Nebraska and the United States
Period
County
Nebraska
U.S.
Last year (2025)
+3.6%
+3.3%
+2.9%
5 years (2020–2025)
+49%
+49%
+47%
10 years (2015–2025)
+90%
+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
Lincoln next to Lancaster 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
Lincoln$264,000
Lancaster$275,200
Nebraska$238,600
United States$332,700
Typical monthly rent
Lincoln$1,086
Lancaster$1,085
Nebraska$1,072
United States$1,413
Typical yearly household income
Lincoln$71,867
Lancaster$74,793
Nebraska$76,475
United States$80,734
See the full table
Lincoln next to Lancaster County and Nebraska
Measure
Lincoln
Lancaster County
Nebraska
U.S.
Typical home value
$264,000 ▼4% below the county
$275,200
$238,600
$332,700
Typical monthly rent
$1,086
$1,085
$1,072
$1,413
Typical yearly household income
$71,867 ▼4% below the county
$74,793
$76,475
$80,734
Households that own their home
56% ▼3 points below the county
59%
67%
65%
Typical yearly property tax
$4,023 ▼4% below the county
$4,204
$3,549
$3,119
Effective property tax rate
1.52% ▼0.01 points below the county
1.53%
1.49%
0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income
47%
47%
45%
51%
“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Lancaster 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 Lincoln
For a typical $264,000 home in Lincoln, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Lincoln's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.
FHA, 3.5% down$2,317a month
Least cash to close
Down payment
$9,240
Cash to close
$17,160
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
FHA MIP · $117
Conventional, 5% down$2,269a month
Down payment
$13,200
Cash to close
$21,120
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
PMI · $125
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI$1,875a month
Down payment
$52,800
Cash to close
$60,720
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
ITIN, 15% down (example)$2,119a month
Down payment
$39,600
Cash to close
$47,520
Rate
8.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Lincoln
Loan
Monthly payment
Down payment
Loan amount
Rate
Mortgage insurance
Cash to close
Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down Least cash to close
$2,317
$9,240
$259,218
7.18%
FHA MIP · $117
$17,160
580
Conventional, 5% down
$2,269
$13,200
$250,800
7.18%
PMI · $125
$21,120
620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI
$1,875
$52,800
$211,200
7.18%
None
$60,720
620*
ITIN, 15% down (example)
$2,119
$39,600
$224,400
8.18%
None
$47,520
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 Lincoln and for Lancaster County.
Property tax
Effective rate in Lincoln
1.52%of the home’s value each year
$4,023 a year for the typical owner in Lincoln.
Lincoln1.52%
Lancaster1.53%
Nebraska1.49%
What Nebraska publishesHomestead exemption for seniors, people with disabilities and veterans (Nebraska Department of Revenue, Property Assessment Division)
Typical rent in Lincoln is $1,086 a month: about the same as the county. In Lincoln, 47% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Lancaster County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,230 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $23.65 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 Lancaster County (Fiscal year 2027)
Size
Fair rent a month
Hourly wage
Yearly income
Studio
$948
$18.23
$37,920
1 bedroom
$1,009
$19.40
$40,360
2 bedrooms
$1,230
$23.65
$49,200
3 bedrooms
$1,703
$32.75
$68,120
4 bedrooms
$1,915
$36.83
$76,600
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 Lincoln
HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Lincoln has 12 ZIP codes with their own.
For 2 bedrooms it runs from $1,030 in 68502 to $1,470 in 68516.
5 of the 12 are above the fair market rent for Lancaster County ($1,230).
2-bedroom fair market rent in each of the 12 ZIP codes of Lincoln, beside the one for Lancaster County. For 2 bedrooms it runs from $1,030 in 68502 to $1,470 in 68516. 5 of the 12 are above the fair market rent for Lancaster County ($1,230).
2-bedroom fair market rent in each ZIP code
Each line is one ZIP code: in color, those above the county's fair market rent; in gray, the rest.
County: $1,230
Lowest: $1,030 (68502)Highest: $1,470 (68516)
Fair market rent by ZIP code and size in Lincoln, fiscal year 2027.
68502
$780
$840
$1,030
$1,430
$1,590
68503
$880
$940
$1,140
$1,580
$1,770
68504
$900
$960
$1,170
$1,620
$1,820
68505
$1,000
$1,070
$1,300
$1,800
$2,020
68506
$1,030
$1,090
$1,330
$1,840
$2,070
68507
$820
$870
$1,060
$1,470
$1,650
68508
$820
$880
$1,070
$1,480
$1,670
68510
$790
$850
$1,030
$1,430
$1,600
68512
$1,110
$1,180
$1,440
$1,990
$2,240
68516
$1,130
$1,210
$1,470
$2,040
$2,290
68521
$1,130
$1,200
$1,460
$2,020
$2,270
68588
$950
$1,010
$1,230
$1,700
$1,910
ZIP code2 bd3 bd
68502 $1,030$1,430
68503 $1,140$1,580
68504 $1,170$1,620
68505 $1,300$1,800
68506 $1,330$1,840
68507 $1,060$1,470
68508 $1,070$1,480
68510 $1,030$1,430
68512 $1,440$1,990
68516 $1,470$2,040
68521 $1,460$2,020
68588 $1,230$1,700
5 of these ZIP codes cross the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Lincoln 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)
HUD lists 53 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Lincoln. These are the largest.
Bridgeport Apts4800 N 15th St, Lincoln 68521182 low-income homes · 2 bd: 98 · 3 bd: 84 · In service since 1997
Waterbrook Apts3141 N Hill Rd, Lincoln 68504246 homes, 170 low-income · 1 bd: 72 · 2 bd: 150 · 3 bd: 24 · In service since 1999
Hansen Scattered Sites5012 W Loring St, Lincoln 68524149 low-income homes · Run by Lincoln Housing Authority · Average payment: $700 a month · Homes at several sites(402) 434-5500
The Lodge4600 Briarpark Dr, Lincoln 68516324 homes, 130 low-income · In service since 2006
Lincoln Square Senior Apartments841 S 47th St, Lincoln 68510128 low-income homes · For older adults(402) 486-8595
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.
There is 1 HUD-approved agency with an office in Lancaster County; none says it serves in Spanish.
No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Lincoln or Lancaster County. The ones below are statewide in Nebraska: they work in Lincoln 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 Lincoln or Lancaster 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 Lincoln and all of Lancaster 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 Lincoln?
The typical home value in Lincoln is $264,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Lancaster County it is $275,200.
How much does it cost to rent in Lincoln?
Typical rent in Lincoln is $1,086 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Lancaster County is $1,230.
What is the FHA loan limit in Lincoln?
Lincoln uses the FHA limit for all of Lancaster County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.
How much property tax do owners pay in Lincoln?
The typical homeowner in Lincoln pays $4,023 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.52% of the home’s value; in Lancaster County, the rate is 1.53%.
Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Lincoln?
There is 1 HUD-approved counseling agency with an office in Lancaster County. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.
