Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Lincoln, NE

    Is Lincoln a good place to live?

    Watch Lincoln

    Lincoln ranks #3 of 8 Nebraska cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (54/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population grew 0.5% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $248,200
    +7.7% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $1,045
    per month
    Household income
    $69,991
    median
    Unemployment
    3.3%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Lincoln

    The median home value in Lincoln is $248,200 and median rent is $1,045 a month, against a median household income of $69,991. Homes cost about 3.5× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Lincoln crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across Nebraska the 2025 rate was 223 violent and 1,404 property crimes per 100,000 people — #32 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Lincoln, NE

    Lincoln has about 291,932 residents, 3.3% unemployment and 26% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Lincoln with

    Lincoln vs OmahaLincoln vs BellevueLincoln vs Grand IslandLincoln vs KearneyLincoln vs FremontLincoln vs NorfolkLincoln vs Hastings

    More: Where to move in Nebraska · Best counties in Nebraska

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report