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METRO AREA

Lincoln Metro

Lincoln, NE · 2 counties · 352,081 residents (2025 est.) · 1,408.99 sq mi
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The short version

Lincoln has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $75,185. Population has grown 29% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $273,463. At a median age of 34.5, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. It sits in the top 10% of US metro areas for household income.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 34.5
US median: 38.9
More educated
41% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 44%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
344,337
+29%since 2000
from 266,787 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
244 / sq mi
+29%since 2000
from 189 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
34.5
+7%since 2000
from 32.2 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:352,081 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
218K252K287K321K356K1990201020202024Lincoln
2024344K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$75,185
−2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $41,903 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$40,917
+94%since 2000
from $21,087 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
50.0%
+20.6 ptssince 2009
from 29.5% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
11.6%
+2.3 ptssince 2000
from 9.4% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.450
+4%since 2010
from 0.433 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information10.6%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade9.7%
US avg: 9.9%
Other services7.8%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration6.6%
US avg: 4.8%
Wholesale trade6%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance4.6%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical3.8%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing1.8%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.6%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction1.6%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.4%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.8%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$273,463
+44%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $104,228 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,080
+15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $515 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
59.6%
−1.6 ptssince 2000
from 61.2% in 2000
40.4% rent
Vacancy rate
4.5%
−1.9 ptssince 2009
from 6.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
17.4%
−4.5 ptssince 2009
from 21.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
44.6%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 44.5% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.6
+46%since 2000
from 2.5 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
56
RELATED:See current rent listings in Lincoln on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic89.3%(238,144)
Black2.6%(6,939)
Hispanic / Latino3.2%(8,616)
Asian2.7%(7,166)
Other0%
Diversity Score20.5%(54,711)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic78.7%(270,878)
Black3.6%(12,283)
Hispanic / Latino8.2%(28,299)
Asian3.9%(13,374)
Other5.7%(19,503)
Diversity Score46.1%(158,573)
Segregation Score29.6%(101,762)
Diversity Score
46
+125%since 2000
from 21 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
30
−13%since 2020
from 34 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
41.4%
+9.5 ptssince 2000
from 31.9% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
93.7%
+3.3 ptssince 2000
from 90.3% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
15.2%
+4.5 ptssince 2000
from 10.7% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
19.2 min
+69%since 2000
from 11.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
74.5%
−6.2 ptssince 2009
from 80.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
8.4%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 9.5% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.7%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 1.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
11.4%
+7.8 ptssince 2009
from 3.5% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.4%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 3.2% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.8%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 1.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
6.1%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 5.6% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.1%
−2.6 ptssince 2011
from 5.7% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
69.6%
−3.3 ptssince 2011
from 72.9% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
15.4%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 14.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
44.0%
−21.6 ptssince 2009
from 65.6% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.4%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 50.1% in 2009
Female
49.6%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 49.9% in 2009
Foreign born
8.3%
+2.4 ptssince 2009
from 5.9% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.7%
−44.0 ptssince 2009
from 49.7% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
12.3%
+3.2 ptssince 2012
from 9.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.9%
−83.6 ptssince 2013
from 89.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
92.6%
+9.0 ptssince 2017
from 83.6% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
88.2%
−1.1 ptssince 2016
from 89.3% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
4.5%
+0.5 ptssince 2016
from 4.1% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

LincolnCENTRAL301,522
What's inside

2 component counties

Lancaster CountyCENTRAL334,049Seward County18,032
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Lincoln

Peoria
Pop 363,505
Davenport
Pop 380,452
Clarksville
Pop 349,001
Green Bay
Pop 336,756
Places similar to Lincoln
Head to head

Compare Lincoln side by side

LINCOLN VS
Peoria
Income$72,642−3%
Home value$164,527−40%
Population363,505+3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LINCOLN VS
Davenport
Income$73,139−3%
Home value$183,173−33%
Population380,452+8%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LINCOLN VS
Clarksville
Income$70,081−7%
Home value$250,970−8%
Population349,001−1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LINCOLN VS
Green Bay
Income$79,291+5%
Home value$259,130−5%
Population336,756−4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Lincoln, NE?

Lincoln, NE has about 344,337 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Lincoln, NE?

The typical household in Lincoln, NE earns about $75,185 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Lincoln, NE expensive?

In Lincoln, NE, the median home is worth about $273,463, and the typical rent is about $1,080 a month.

How educated are people in Lincoln, NE?

About 41.4% of adults age 25 and over in Lincoln, NE hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Lincoln, NE?

About 11.6% of people in Lincoln, NE live below the federal poverty line.

Has Lincoln, NE grown since 1990?

Yes, Lincoln, NE has grown since 1990. The population has added about 115,246 residents, a change of about 50 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →