City profile · North Dakota · Census ACS 2023

Lincoln, ND

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Lincoln - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

4,309
Residents
$83,387
Median income
$259,400
Median home
$1,175
Median rent (state)

Lincoln - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Lincoln lands in the 65th percentile for household income and the 84th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

65th
percentile, household income
58th
percentile, home value
34th
percentile, median rent
84th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Lincoln, ND

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 4,309 residents in Lincoln, a small town within North Dakota. The typical household in Lincoln brings in $83,387 a year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 5.2%. Lincoln's housing stock carries a median value of $259,400, and the median resident age is 30.5 years. 18.3% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 82.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 1 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Construction Slowdown), down 96% from five years earlier. Lincoln reports a comparatively low crime rate: FBI UCR figures show 513.5 crimes per 100,000 residents, below the national average (reporting is voluntary across agencies, so treat this as reporting activity rather than a definitive danger score).

Living costs in North Dakota run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, North Dakota scores 89.0 (Well Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,175 monthly. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts North Dakota's average monthly utility costs around $200 (state average). FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 85.1 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

4,309 residents

Census ACS 2023 - North Dakota

Median Household Income

$83,387 /yr

Poverty 5.2%

Cost of Living Index (state)

89.0 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, North Dakota average

How does Lincoln compare to other US cities?

Here's how Lincoln stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 65% higher than other cities
Home value 58% pricier than other cities
Median rent 34% pricier than other cities
Safety 84% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

A national percentile can hide a lot of local variation: narrowed to North Dakota alone, Lincoln ranks #2 of 21 North Dakota cities by lowest crime rate - a different, more locally useful comparison than stacking it against the entire country.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Lincoln against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to North Dakota only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

North Dakota-relative analysis

Median Home Value is Lincoln's strongest outlier among North Dakota cities

Among the 226 North Dakota cities PlainCities tracks with reported median home value data, Lincoln ranks #23 - the 90th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Lincoln only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#55 of 227
76th percentile in North Dakota
Median Gross Rent
#14 of 246
89th percentile in North Dakota
Median Home Value
#23 of 226
90th percentile in North Dakota
Poverty Rate
#123 of 246
50th percentile in North Dakota
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#161 of 246
33rd percentile in North Dakota

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within North Dakota only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

65thIncome percentile
84thSafety percentile

65th percentile nationally for median household income · 84th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Lincoln's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Lincoln's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 68 Avg. percentile National median
Lincoln's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Lincoln's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$259,400 42nd percentile more affordable than 42% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). This entry sits in this band. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Lincoln $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Lincoln, ND Lincoln, ND's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Lincoln, ND-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Lincoln, ND median $83,387/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Lincoln, ND's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Lincoln, ND. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 18.3%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 5.2%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 82.0%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
4,309
Median Income
$83,387
Median Home Value
$259,400
Median Age
30.5
Poverty Rate
5.2%
Labor force participation
82.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
18.3%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
513.5
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
67.0
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
446.5
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
1
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
4,200 residents4,300 residents4,400 residents4,500 residents4,600 residents 202020212022202320242025 4,288 residents 4,493 residents ▲ +4.8%
Lincoln's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
1
housing units authorized
Single-Family
1
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.2
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 24
2020 31
2021 26
2022 32
2023 2
2024 1

Permit volume decreased 96% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
86.7%
Carpool
8.3%
Public Transit
0.4%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
4.0%
Other
0.6%

Based on 2,391 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for North Dakota - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$90
avg/month
Natural Gas
$70
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$40
avg/month
Total Utilities
$200
estimated/month

Estimates reflect North Dakota state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a North Dakota state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Lincoln sits in

Cost of Living Index
89.0
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,175/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
85.1 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in North Dakota

Grafton
4,128 people
Horace
3,964 people
Minot AFB
4,904 people
Beulah
3,058 people
New
2,725 people
Casselton
2,640 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Lincoln's 4,309 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Leisure Village East, NJ
4,309 people
Whiteriver, AZ
4,308 people
Bonsall, CA
4,308 people
Ford, CA
4,310 people
Le Roy, NY
4,310 people
Staunton, IL
4,307 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Lincoln's $83,387 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Holland, MA
$83,382 median income
Readlyn, IA
$83,393 median income
Hampton, PA
$83,393 median income
Plymouth, UT
$83,393 median income
Corder, MO
$83,375 median income
Deerwood, TX
$83,400 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Lincoln, ND Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Lincoln, ND - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 83.9% 10.9% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 8.3% White 83.9% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.0% American Indian 4.9% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.3% Two or more races 10.9% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Lincoln compares to nearby North Dakota cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Lincoln (this city) 4,309 $83,387
Grafton 4,128 $60,184
Horace 3,964 $145,801
Minot AFB 4,904 $65,571
Census ACS 5-year FIPS ND FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Lincoln, ND?

What is the population of Lincoln, ND? +

Lincoln, ND counts 4,309 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Lincoln, ND? +

Lincoln households earn a median of $83,387 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Lincoln? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Lincoln; the closest available measure is the North Dakota state average, a cost of living index of 89.0 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within North Dakota vary by metro area.

Is Lincoln, ND safe? +

Lincoln has a total crime rate of 513.5 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Lincoln, ND? +

A typical home in Lincoln is worth $259,400, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.