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City · 11,783 residents · Lincoln County, North Carolina

Lincolnton , North Carolina

In Lincolnton, a typical home is worth $248,700 and typical rent is $965 a month. Compared with all of Lincoln County, typical household income is 42% lower, the typical home value is 23% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 33 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $248,700

    23% below the county

    14% below North Carolina

    • Lincolnton
    • Lincoln
    • North Carolina

  • Typical rent

    $965a month

    5% below the county

    21% below North Carolina

    • Lincolnton
    • Lincoln
    • North Carolina

  • Typical household income

    $46,320a year

    42% below the county

    36% below North Carolina

    • Lincolnton
    • Lincoln
    • North Carolina

  • Households that own their home

    46%

    33 points below the county

    20 points below North Carolina

    • Lincolnton
    • Lincoln
    • North Carolina

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$295,965
1.6% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,376 a month
5.6% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Lincolnton is in Lincoln 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 Lincoln County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Lincolnton apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. 46% of households in Lincolnton own their home, against 79% in Lincoln County.

  2. The typical household income in Lincolnton is $46,320, 42% less than in Lincoln County as a whole ($80,016).

  3. Nearby, in Newton, the typical home value is $186,300: 25% less than in Lincolnton ($248,700).

  4. The typical home in Lincolnton is worth $248,700, 23% less than in Lincoln County as a whole ($321,000).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Lincolnton

What homes there are in Lincolnton, 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

The detached house is still the most common home in Lincolnton, but it weighs less than in Lincoln County: 60% against 74%.

Year built

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes
Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$1,521 a month

Lincoln County: $1,618 a month

Without a mortgage

$544 a month

Lincoln County: $424 a month

Owners with a mortgage

55%

Lincoln County: 60%

Owning costs less in Lincolnton: with a mortgage, the typical cost is $1,521 a month; in Lincoln County, $1,618. Without one, $544.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

Homes in Lincolnton gained value more slowly than in Lincoln County: 62% since 2015–2019, against 87%.

Rents in Lincolnton rose faster than in Lincoln County: 44% since 2015–2019, against 40%.

The typical household income in Lincolnton rose 25%: less than home values (+62%) and rent (+44%).

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureLincolntonLincoln CountyNorth CarolinaUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate7.1%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1.3%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate2.8%2.2%3.4%
People per household 2.282.502.442.53
Drive alone 75%76%72%69%
Carpool 8%7%9%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate2%3%
Work from home 12%14%16%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate1%1%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

On average, a household in Lincolnton has 2.28 people, fewer than in Lincoln County (2.50).

To get to work, 75% of workers in Lincolnton drive alone; in Lincoln County, 76%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Lincolnton?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Lincolnton, worth $248,700, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 53% of the typical household income in Lincolnton, which is $46,320 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $87,069 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Lincoln County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Lincolnton. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $8,705 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$2,032

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$244,195
Total interest
$351,339
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $4,200 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,081 a month

  • Tight

    $1,081 to $1,390 a month

  • Hard

    more than $1,390 a month

    Your payment · 53%

Compared with the typical household income in Lincolnton ($46,320 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$2,032
Principal & interest$1,654
Property tax$164
Home insurance$104
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$110

You need at least $8,705 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

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.

The city and its county

Lincolnton and Lincoln County

Lincolnton is in Lincoln County, North Carolina. 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).

Lincolnton's own numbers

Typical home value
$248,700
Typical monthly rent
$965
Typical yearly household income
$46,320
Households that own their home
46%
Effective property tax rate
0.79%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Lincoln County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,138
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+60%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
0.4%

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 Lincoln County.

Everything about Lincoln County

Buying

Buying a home in Lincolnton

A typical home in Lincolnton is worth $248,700: 23% below the county and 14% below North Carolina. With the typical household income in Lincolnton ($46,320 a year), a typical home costs 5.4 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.

  • Lincolnton 5.4 years
  • Lincoln 4.0 years
  • North Carolina 4.0 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Lincoln County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Lincoln County rose 105% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Lincoln County.

Period County North Carolina U.S.
Last year (2025) +1.4% +2.5% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +60% +60% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +105% +107% +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

Lincolnton next to Lincoln County, North Carolina and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Lincolnton $248,700
  • Lincoln $321,000
  • North Carolina $288,900
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Lincolnton $965
  • Lincoln $1,015
  • North Carolina $1,228
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Lincolnton $46,320
  • Lincoln $80,016
  • North Carolina $72,388
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Lincolnton next to Lincoln County and North Carolina
Measure Lincolnton Lincoln County North Carolina U.S.
Typical home value $248,700 $321,000 $288,900 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $965 $1,015 $1,228 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $46,320 $80,016 $72,388 $80,734
Households that own their home 46% 79% 67% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $1,970 $1,856 $1,896 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.79% 0.58% 0.66% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 49% 42% 49% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Lincoln 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 Lincolnton

For a typical $248,700 home in Lincolnton, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Lincolnton's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $2,032a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $8,705
    Cash to close
    $16,166
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $110

  • Conventional, 5% down $1,986a month

    Down payment
    $12,435
    Cash to close
    $19,896
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $118

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,615a month

    Down payment
    $49,740
    Cash to close
    $57,201
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,845a month

    Down payment
    $37,305
    Cash to close
    $44,766
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

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.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Lincolnton and for Lincoln County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Lincolnton

0.79%of the home’s value each year

$1,970 a year for the typical owner in Lincolnton.

  • Lincolnton 0.79%
  • Lincoln 0.58%
  • North Carolina 0.66%

What North Carolina publishes Elderly or Disabled Homestead Exclusion (North Carolina General Assembly (statute))

Exemptions and deadlines in North Carolina

Flood risk in Lincoln County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Lincoln County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
0.4%
144
Of those, with NFIP insurance
15%
County North Carolina U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 0.4% 2.8% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 15% 53% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Lincolnton

Typical rent in Lincolnton is $965 a month: 5% below the county. In Lincolnton, 49% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Lincoln County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,138 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $21.88 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Lincoln County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $1,003 $19.29 $40,120
1 bedroom $1,045 $20.10 $41,800
2 bedrooms $1,138 $21.88 $45,520
3 bedrooms $1,576 $30.31 $63,040
4 bedrooms $1,902 $36.58 $76,080

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 Lincolnton

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Lincolnton is in ZIP code 28092.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,090: $48 less than the fair market rent for Lincoln County ($1,138).

  • 28092 $1,090$1,510

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Lincolnton 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 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Lincolnton

HUD lists 12 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Lincolnton. These are the largest.

  • Project Unnamed 318 Sherrill Ave, Lincolnton 28092 248 homes, 246 low-income · Run by Lincolnton Housing Authority · Average payment: $412 a month · Average wait: 21 months · Homes at several sites (704) 735-2221
  • Caroline Courtyard 102 Ashton Way, Lincolnton 28092 56 low-income homes · 2 bd: 42 · 3 bd: 14 · In service since 2016 · For families
  • Oakland Mill Apartments 440 Salem Church Rd, Lincolnton 28092 42 low-income homes · 1 bd: 20 · 2 bd: 22 · In service since 2013 · For older adults
  • Woodhill Apartments 1005 Georgetown Rd, Lincolnton 28092 40 low-income homes · 1 bd: 8 · 2 bd: 32 · In service since 2010 · For families
  • Riverside Apts 113 Hillside Dr, Lincolnton 28092 34 low-income homes · 1 bd: 32 · 2 bd: 2 · In service since 1994 · For older adults

See all 13 buildings in Lincoln County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Lincolnton

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 Lincoln County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.

A grandmother smiles, seated at home.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Lincolnton

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Lincolnton or Lincoln County. The ones below are statewide in North Carolina: they work in Lincolnton the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in North Carolina

  • NC Home Advantage Mortgage

    Statewide in North Carolina

    NCHFA fixed-rate mortgage with down payment assistance, for first-time buyers and for people who have owned a home before, in North Carolina. Offered by North Carolina Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA).

    Forgivable

    See the program Official page

  • NC 1st Home Advantage Down Payment

    Statewide in North Carolina

    A fixed amount of NCHFA down payment assistance for first-time buyers and veterans in North Carolina. Offered by North Carolina Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA).

    Type not stated

    See the program Official page

  • Community Partners Loan Pool (CPLP)

    Statewide in North Carolina

    NCHFA interest-free loan with deferred payments of up to 25% of the price (maximum $50,000) for the down payment of low- and moderate-income buyers in North Carolina; you apply through a member organization. Offered by North Carolina Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Lincolnton

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Lincolnton, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • City of Gastonia

    150 S York St, Gastonia · 15 miles away

    • Pre-purchase counseling
    • Homebuyer education workshops
    (704) 866-6756

  • Western Piedmont Council of Governments

    1880 2nd Ave NW, Hickory · 19 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 3 more
    (828) 322-9191

  • Ada Jenkins Families and Careers Development Center, Inc.

    212 Gamble St, Davidson · 22 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 7 more
    (704) 896-0471

All counseling agencies in North Carolina

Help in Spanish near Lincolnton

2 of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Lincolnton

HUD’s record names them for Lincolnton or Lincoln County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • Lincolnton Housing Authority Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (704) 735-2221

All housing agencies in North Carolina Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Lincoln County

These cities are also in Lincoln County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Lincoln County Housing in North Carolina

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Lincolnton, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Lincoln County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Lincolnton.

All guides
Three women of one family talk as they cook vegetables in the kitchen.

Questions

Housing questions about Lincolnton

Short answers with the numbers for Lincolnton and all of Lincoln 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 Lincolnton?

The typical home value in Lincolnton is $248,700, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Lincoln County it is $321,000.

How much does it cost to rent in Lincolnton?

Typical rent in Lincolnton is $965 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Lincoln County is $1,138.

What is the FHA loan limit in Lincolnton?

Lincolnton uses the FHA limit for all of Lincoln 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 Lincolnton?

The typical homeowner in Lincolnton pays $1,970 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.79% of the home’s value; in Lincoln County, the rate is 0.58%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Lincolnton?

We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Lincoln County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).