The Town FilesLincoln, Illinois
City in Logan County · population 13,288 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $124,300
- Household income
- $57,340
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 19 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 39
- Median age
- 39.2
Lincoln is a city of 13,288 people in Logan County, Illinois. The median home is worth $124,300, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for cycling than 86% of Illinois towns, hipper than 76% of Illinois towns, more walkable than 72% of Illinois towns.
How Lincoln ranks
Percentile among Illinois towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Illinois towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Lincoln is worth $124,300, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $57,340, which is more affordable than 50% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $828 a month. 56.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lincoln | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $124,300 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $828 | $960 |
| Median household income | $57,340 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 56.9% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1967 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.7% | — |
Who lives in Lincoln
| People | Lincoln | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.2 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.2% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 18.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.3% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.0% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 6.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.4% | — |
| Work from home | 6.9% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 18.2 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.6% | 90.4% |
Weather in Lincoln
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 17.8°F. About 39.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 19.3 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 24 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 126 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
39 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lincoln since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 5, 1977 about 9.4 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 33 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 10, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 35 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 8, 2003.
Severe weather in Logan County since 1996
Logan County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 15, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4728: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| February 9, 2007 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-1681: Severe Winter Storm |
Jobs and pay in Logan County
Logan County had 7,878 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,750 a year. Unemployment was 4.7% in 2023; in Lincoln itself the ACS puts it at 2.9%.
Public schools in Lincoln
9 public schools with 2,354 students, about 12.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln Comm High School | 9-12 | 779 | 13.0 |
| Lincoln Jr High School | 6-8 | 312 | 11.6 |
| Chester-East Lincoln Elem School | PK-8 | 299 | 13.6 |
| Northwest Elem School | PK-5 | 290 | 15.3 |
| Washington-Monroe Elem School | PK-5 | 229 | 13.5 |
| West Lincoln-Broadwell Elem Sch | PK-8 | 217 | 11.4 |
| Central Elem School | PK-5 | 176 | 11.7 |
| Adams Elem School | PK-2 | 52 | 6.5 |
| Lincolnland Technical Ed Ctr | 11-12 | — | — |
Towns near Lincoln
- Clinton, IL21.5 mi · 7,004 people · home $102,800
- Sherman, IL21.8 mi · 4,673 people · home $297,800
- Riverton, IL22.8 mi · 3,532 people · home $152,200
- Heyworth, IL22.9 mi · 2,791 people · home $210,600
- Forsyth, IL26.5 mi · 3,734 people · home $281,000
- Springfield, IL28.8 mi · 114,394 people · home $162,100
- Rochester, IL29.3 mi · 3,863 people · home $238,900
Lincoln questions
Is Lincoln, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lincoln scores better for retirees than 58% of Illinois towns and quieter than 33%. 22.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.2).
How much does a house cost in Lincoln?
The median owner-occupied home in Lincoln is valued at $124,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $57,340, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $828 a month.
What is the weather like in Lincoln?
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 17.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.8 inches of precipitation a year and 19.3 inches of snow.
Does Lincoln get tornadoes?
39 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lincoln since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 5, 1977. The typical Illinois town has had 27.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)