City · Nebraska
Lincoln, Nebraska
Lincoln, city, in Lancaster County, Nebraska. Lincoln had 301,522 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 3.5% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 291,082 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 294,856 (±42). GEOID 3128000.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
301,522
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 291,082 · ACS 2020-2024: 294,856 ±42
Median household income
$71,867
±$1,734 (90% margin)
Nebraska: $76,475
Median home value
$264,000
±$3,473 (90% margin)
Nebraska: $238,600
Median gross rent
$1,086
±$20 (90% margin)
Nebraska: $1,072
Where is Lincoln and what county is it in?
Lincoln is a city in Lancaster County, Nebraska. It covers 101.1 square miles of land, 2,879 residents per square mile in 2020.
Lincoln is in the Lincoln, NE metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 2 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Lincoln, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 301,522 people lived in Lincoln on July 1, 2025, up 3.5% since 2020, faster than Nebraska (+2.9%). The 2020 Census counted 291,082 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 294,856 (±42).
| Measure | Lincoln | Lancaster County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 294,856 ±42 | 326,696 | +11,017 |
| Households | 122,623 ±897 | 134,126 | +9,072 |
| Average household size | 2.30 ±0.02 | 2.34 | −0.08 |
| Housing units | 128,449 ±406 | 140,324 | +8,434 |
Lincoln's population since 2000
From 225,581 in 2000 to 301,522 in 2025: up 33.7%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Lincoln as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Lincoln?
The median resident of Lincoln is 33.4 years old; 21.9% are under 18 and 14.8% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 76.3%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 9.0%. 9.4% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Lincoln | Lancaster County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.4 ±0.2 | 34.3 | +0.7 |
| Under 18 years | 21.9% ±0.2 pts | 22.4% | – |
| 65 years and over | 14.8% ±0.2 pts | 15.3% | – |
| Male | 50.2% ±0.1 pts | 50.3% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 9.0% ±0.1 pts | 8.5% | +1.4 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 76.3% ±0.3 pts | 77.9% | −3.3 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 4.1% ±0.3 pts | 3.7% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 4.4% ±0.2 pts | 4.1% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.3% ±0.1 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 5.4% ±0.4 pts | 5.2% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.3% ±0.1 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 9.4% ±0.6 pts | 8.7% | +0.9 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 13.2% ±0.7 pts | 12.3% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 5.6% ±0.3 pts | 5.7% | – |
| With a disability | 12.7% ±0.5 pts | 12.4% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 6.3% ±0.5 pts | 5.9% | −1.4 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 93.2% ±0.5 pts | 93.6% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 41.8% ±1.0 pts | 41.9% | +2.2 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 15.3% ±0.6 pts | 15.4% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 82.0% ±1.0 pts | 83.1% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.7% ±0.3 pts | 2.5% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Lincoln earn?
Half of Lincoln's 122,623 households earn less than $71,867 a year (±$1,734), against $74,793 in Lancaster County and $76,475 in Nebraska. In 2015-2019 it was $71,068 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 12.7% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Lincoln | Lancaster County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $71,867 ±$1,734 | $74,793 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $94,772 ±$2,103 | $99,410 | – |
| Per capita income | $39,672 ±$878 | $41,036 | +$1,150 |
| People below the poverty line | 12.7% ±0.8 pts | 11.9% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 13.6% ±1.7 pts | 12.3% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 8.9% ±0.8 pts | 8.4% | – |
| Households with a computer | 97.1% ±0.4 pts | 97.1% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 92.7% ±0.6 pts | 92.8% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Lincoln?
Owners occupy 56.1% of Lincoln's occupied homes and renters 43.9%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $264,000 by its owner (±$3,473). The median renter pays $1,086 a month including utilities, and 38.4% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Lincoln | Lancaster County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $264,000 ±$3,473 | $275,200 | +$55,028 |
| Median gross rent | $1,086 ±$20 | $1,085 | +$37 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 38.4% ±1.7 pts | 38.1% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,697 ±$24 | $1,742 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 56.1% ±1.0 pts | 58.9% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 43.9% ±1.0 pts | 41.1% | – |
| Housing units | 128,449 ±406 | 140,324 | +8,434 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.4% ±0.2 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 3.5% ±0.8 pts | 3.5% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 55.5% ±1.0 pts | 58.8% | – |
| Mobile homes | 1.5% ±0.3 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 2.0% ±0.3 pts | 2.2% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 12.5% ±0.5 pts | 12.7% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 12.2% ±0.6 pts | 12.2% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 6.7% ±0.6 pts | 6.2% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Lincoln building?
Builders took permits for 2,215 new housing units in Lincoln in 2025 (859 in single-family houses), 7.3 per 1,000 residents against 5.3 across Nebraska.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Lincoln work and get to work?
73.9% of Lincoln's workers drive alone and 11.4% work from home. The average trip to work takes 18.4 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.3%.
| Measure | Lincoln | Lancaster County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 70.0% ±0.7 pts | 69.7% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 3.3% ±0.4 pts | 3.2% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 73.9% ±1.1 pts | 74.2% | – |
| Carpooled | 8.5% ±0.8 pts | 8.4% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.8% ±0.2 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Walked | 3.5% ±0.6 pts | 3.3% | – |
| Worked from home | 11.4% ±0.8 pts | 11.6% | +8.0 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 18.4 min ±0.3 | 19.0 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Lincoln?
75 census tracts lie mostly in Lincoln, and 5 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $26,382 (Tract 18) to $146,786 (Tract 36.09).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 34.02Lancaster County | 6,706 | $56,651 |
| Tract 12Lancaster County | 6,526 | $81,042 |
| Tract 6Lancaster County | 6,394 | $43,750 |
| Tract 31.04Lancaster County | 5,811 | $58,209 |
| Tract 31.02Lancaster County | 5,690 | $85,994 |
| Tract 27.02Lancaster County | 5,589 | $80,551 |
| Tract 4Lancaster County | 5,528 | $47,457 |
| Tract 22Lancaster County | 5,490 | $63,173 |
| Tract 37.04Lancaster County | 5,443 | $53,860 |
| Tract 23Lancaster County | 5,368 | $70,595 |
| Tract 30.03Lancaster County | 5,265 | $57,500 |
| Tract 16Lancaster County | 5,253 | $70,534 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Lincoln) · Census block assignment files
How does Lincoln compare with other places in Nebraska?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Lincoln is the 72nd-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 2nd-most populous of 528 in Nebraska.
Lincoln ranks 66th of 136 places in Nebraska with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 2nd | 528 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 23rd | 132 |
| Residents per square mile | 5th | 136 |
| Median household income | 66th | 136 |
| Per capita income | 38th | 136 |
| Median home value | 17th | 135 |
| Median gross rent | 23rd | 129 |
| Poverty rate | 38th | 109 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 9th | 135 |
| Median age | 118th | 136 |
| Owner-occupied share | 126th | 135 |
| Work from home | 18th | 84 |
| Travel time to work | 74th | 135 |
Lincoln's figures with every place in Nebraska (CSV)
Every place in Nebraska, sortable · Compare Lincoln with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Lincoln?
1 of the 57 figures for Lincoln on this page carries a coefficient of variation over 40% and is marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Lincoln are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Lincoln.