The Town FilesLincoln, Nebraska
City in Lancaster County · population 291,082 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $264,000
- Household income
- $71,867
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 26 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 33.4
Lincoln is a city of 291,082 people in Lancaster County, Nebraska. The median home is worth $264,000, above the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). It ranks better transit than 100% of Nebraska towns, more vibrant than 99% of Nebraska towns, more walkable than 98% of Nebraska towns.
How Lincoln ranks
Percentile among Nebraska towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Nebraska towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Lincoln is worth $264,000, above the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). Homes cost about 3.7 times the median household income of $71,867, which is more affordable than 1% of Nebraska towns. Median rent is $1,086 a month. 56.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lincoln | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $264,000 | $154,800 |
| Median rent | $1,086 | $818 |
| Median household income | $71,867 | $66,320 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.7× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 56.1% | 73.2% |
| Median year built | 1982 | 1963 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.6% | — |
Who lives in Lincoln
| People | Lincoln | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.4 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.8% | 20.8% |
| Under 18 | 21.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 41.8% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.7% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 5.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 9.4% | — |
| Work from home | 11.4% | 5.2% |
| Average commute | 18.4 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.7% | 87.8% |
Weather in Lincoln
July highs average 89.4°F and January lows 14.4°F. About 29.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 26.0 inches of snow (typical Nebraska town: 28.6 in). Expect about 42 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 143 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lincoln since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Nebraska town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 25, 1957 about 6.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 1, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 193 times; the largest was 5.00 inches on May 9, 2016.
Severe weather in Lancaster County since 1996
Lancaster County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 22, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4896: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| May 21, 2025 | Winter Storm | DR-4868: Severe Winter Storm And Straight-Line Winds |
| October 21, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4838: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4521: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3483: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Lancaster County
Lancaster County had 175,346 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,332 a year. Unemployment was 2.1% in 2023; in Lincoln itself the ACS puts it at 3.3%.
Public schools in Lincoln
82 public schools with 41,654 students, about 13.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 2,118 | 14.1 |
| LINCOLN EAST HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 2,078 | 16.8 |
| SOUTHWEST HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 2,049 | 19.3 |
| NORTH STAR HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,914 | 14.8 |
| LINCOLN SOUTHEAST HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,880 | 16.6 |
| LINCOLN NORTHEAST HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,769 | 15.1 |
| SCOTT MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 1,103 | 16.5 |
| SCHOO MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 926 | 14.5 |
| NORTHWEST HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 902 | 15.0 |
| KOOSER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 899 | 15.2 |
| GOODRICH MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 852 | 11.7 |
| ROPER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 851 | 14.7 |
Towns near Lincoln
- Waverly, NE10.2 mi · 4,279 people · home $316,600
- Hickman, NE13.0 mi · 2,607 people · home $311,700
- Crete, NE19.4 mi · 7,099 people · home $223,500
- Ashland, NE22.4 mi · 3,086 people · home $249,700
- Seward, NE23.0 mi · 7,643 people · home $244,600
- Wahoo, NE28.3 mi · 4,818 people · home $243,600
Lincoln questions
Is Lincoln, Nebraska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lincoln scores better for retirees than 4% of Nebraska towns and quieter than 2%. 14.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.4).
How much does a house cost in Lincoln?
The median owner-occupied home in Lincoln is valued at $264,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $71,867, so homes cost about 3.7 times income. Median rent is $1,086 a month.
What is the weather like in Lincoln?
July highs average 89.4°F and January lows 14.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 29.3 inches of precipitation a year and 26.0 inches of snow.
Does Lincoln get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lincoln since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 25, 1957. The typical Nebraska town has had 23.
- 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)