Lincoln, NE, known as 'The Star City,' offers a unique blend of historic charm and modern urban amenities. Located in southeastern Nebraska, Lincoln is a large city that serves as the state capital and a major cultural and economic hub. Major nearby cities like Omaha and Kansas City enhance its status as a central point in the region. Lincoln's blend of historic landmarks, cultural festivals, and urban amenities creates a distinctive living experience.
Lincoln is home to several iconic landmarks, including the Nebraska State Capitol, the historic Haymarket District, and the scenic Sunken Gardens. The city offers a variety of attractions, from the beautiful Pioneer Park Nature Center to the bustling SouthPointe Pavilions, known for its shopping and dining. Lincoln's dining scene is diverse, offering everything from Midwestern cuisine to international dishes.
Annual events such as the Lincoln Arts Festival and the Celebrate Lincoln Festival highlight the city's vibrant cultural scene and provide unique entertainment opportunities for residents and visitors. These events celebrate Lincoln's rich cultural heritage and community spirit. Prestigious institutions like the University of Nebraska-Lincoln contribute to the city's academic and cultural vibrancy, fostering a thriving intellectual community.
The arts and culture scene in Lincoln is dynamic and diverse, with numerous theaters, music venues, and art galleries. The Lied Center for Performing Arts and the Sheldon Museum of Art are just a few of the cultural landmarks that showcase the city's commitment to the arts. Living in Lincoln provides ample opportunities to engage with art, music, and history, making it an exciting place to call home.
Lincoln’s community is welcoming and diverse, creating a friendly environment for newcomers. The city is home to professional sports teams like the Nebraska Cornhuskers (NCAA), providing plenty of excitement for sports fans. Major industries in Lincoln include education, healthcare, and technology, with significant employers such as Bryan Health and the State of Nebraska driving economic growth. The city has extensive public transit options, including buses and bike-sharing programs, making commuting convenient for residents.
Amenities
Within the vicinity, you'll find a wealth of amenities, from restaurants and coffee shops to grocery stores and local shops, all easily accessible on foot.
Commute
High scores in the commute category could indicate that this area offers short commute times to work and readily available public transportation options.
Cost Of Living
Residents in this area benefit from an affordable cost of living. This includes goods and services, transportation, housing, utilities, groceries and healthcare.
Housing
The housing category in this area boasts higher than average scores, likely influenced by a positive home affordability ratio, robust appreciation rates or elevated home values.
Health & Safety
Earning a high health and safety score depends on factors such as good air quality and the availability of essential health facilities like hospitals, clinics, doctors, and fire stations.
Nothing Found
This area did not exhibit any cons, as none of the categories were rated low enough.
Lincoln is a highly populated city located in the state of Nebraska. The city has a population of 293,945 residents. In Lincoln, there are 3,164 people per square mile, which is well above the national population density average. The majority of Lincoln residents report their race to be White; this is followed by Asian and Black. Lincoln could be a great place for young adults and students as the average age of 33 years old is below the nation’s average. Lincoln is very likely to be a great place to live for singles as only 50%, of the population (over fifteen) are classified as married. If you prefer shorter commutes, living in Lincoln will be a delight. With an average one-way commute time of just 19 minutes, traveling to and from work is notably more convenient than the national average, which stands at 26 minutes.
Living in Lincoln can be a good experience for anyone relocating to the city. Having said that, in the state of Nebraska, there are many desirable places to live, so choose wisely! When searching for a new neighborhood, several factors play a vital role in determining its suitability. Safety should be a top priority, ensuring a secure environment with low crime rates. Proximity to your workplace or school helps minimize commuting time and allows for a better work-life balance. Availability of essential amenities such as parks, coffee shops, restaurants, grocery stores, and healthcare facilities contributes to convenience and well-being. Access to reliable public transportation options facilitates easy commuting and connectivity. Additionally, considering the sense of community and the overall atmosphere that resonates with your lifestyle and preferences fosters a harmonious living experience. With useful information like crime, cost of living, commute, health & safety, education and other key data points, finding the best places to live in Lincoln and in the areas around Lincoln is a much easier task.
The livability score in Lincoln is 84 out of 100 and the city is ranked in the 98th percentile of all cities across America. This is a great score, as Lincoln ranks well in multiple categories! The cherry on top is that Lincoln also ranks in the top 10 percent of all cities. For each of the livability categories, we see that Lincoln ranks very well for amenities (A+), cost of living (A+), education (A-), employment (B-) and housing (A+). On a less positive note, Lincoln does not have favorable scores for the following: crime (D). If we take a look at the data, we can find out why.
If you're living in Lincoln, you can expect to enjoy a multitude of local amenities, mostly thanks to the strategic placement of essential services such as grocery stores, restaurants, coffee shops, parks and various shops. If you're contemplating a move to this locale with the intent of establishing it as your permanent residence, you'll be pleased to find an extensive array of amenities and recreational opportunities within easy reach, either on foot or via a brief commute. This wealth of accessible amenities not only enhances the livability of the area but also ensures that you can enjoy a rich and fulfilling lifestyle, making Lincoln an attractive destination for those seeking a vibrant and well-served community to call home. Some of the interesting things to do and attractions include: Nebraska State Capitol, Sunken Gardens, and Lincoln Children's Zoo.
The unemployment rate in Lincoln has consistently declined over the years and currently stands well below the national average at 2.6%. This downward trend holds the potential to reduce poverty and inequality within the region, promote higher wage levels and stimulate greater economic growth. Such positive indicators signal the overall robust health of the local economy, offering a promising outlook for its residents and fostering an environment of financial well-being and prosperity.
For home buyers, real estate will be the largest purchase they will ever make and it will also be their most valuable asset. For renters, the monthly rent paid on their Lincoln apartments will most likely be their largest expense. Based on tangible metrics like home and rental affordability and appreciation rates, housing in this area has received a score that is well above the average of every other US city. A thriving real estate market can also generate strong local economic activity and job creation.
Being close to public transit, grocery stores, parks and other conveniences are all important when weighing your options for a new home in Lincoln. Before you determine if any of these amenities are available in the area, you will also want to know if the real estate prices in Lincoln are affordable. The median home price for Lincoln homes is $326,675, which is 33.4% higher than the Nebraska average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Lincoln, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 3.7, which is 23.3% higher than the Nebraska average.
Why stop at city-to-city? With Local Insights, you can compare neighborhoods, zip codes, or even exact addresses. Access 300+ hyperlocal data points—from schools and crime to housing and amenities—to see which area is the better fit.
| Statistic | Lincoln | Nebraska | National |
| Average one way commute | 19min | 18min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 79.7% | 81.4% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 9.2% | 9.4% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 1.1% | 0.7% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 1.0% | 0.5% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 3.2% | 2.8% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 5.1% | 4.3% | 4.6% |
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