Lincoln 67 Good
Lincoln Livability #494 ranked city in Illinois#10,285 ranked city in the USARanks better than 64% of areas
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Pros and Cons of Living in Lincoln

PROS
  • Cost Of Living 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.

  • Crime Crime

    This area is characterized by a crime rate, per 100,000 individuals, that falls well below the national average, indicating its potential as a very safe place to live.

  • Housing 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.

CONS
  • Amenities Amenities

    It appears that many amenities may not be conveniently situated within walking distance, potentially necessitating the use of a vehicle or public transit.

  • Commute Commute

    Commuters in this area may experience longer-than-average work commute times due to limited public transportation access.

  • Employment Employment

    The combination of low income levels and high unemployment rates contributes to a low score in the employment category, which could make it challenging to secure well-paying jobs.

  • Health & Safety Health & Safety

    Factors like poor air quality and the absence of essential health-related facilities like hospitals, clinics, nursing homes and pharmacies could have played a role in the low score in this category.

What's it like Living in Lincoln?

Located in the state of Illinois, Lincoln is a mid-sized city with a population of 14,250 inhabitants. According to the most recent Census, 90% of Lincoln residents are White, 5% Black and 1% Asian. Not a fan of sitting in traffic during your commute to work? Lincoln offers shorter work commutes, with an average one-way commute time taking only 18 minutes, far lower than the national average of 26 minutes.

Whether you’re relocating to a new area to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in Lincoln could be a positive experience compared to other cities in Illinois if you know where to search. Don't forget to determine what matters most to you in a neighborhood. Consider factors such as safety, proximity to work or school, access to amenities (like parks, fitness facilities, grocery stores, restaurants), public transportation options, community atmosphere and the overall vibe you're looking for. Using the livability score which includes data from categories like health & safety, education, housing, you can easily compare the best places to live in Lincoln and also determine if there are any nearby cities that might be a better match for your lifestyle. You can also compare Lincoln to Illinois and the national average.

The livability score in Lincoln is 68/100 and the city is ranked in the 69th percentile of all cities across America. Based on the rankings for each individual category, Lincoln has received high marks for crime (A+), cost of living (A+) and housing (A+). Lincoln does not rank well for the following: amenities (F) and employment (D-). It might be wise to take a closer look at each category to find out why.

Low rates of violent crime, encompassing offenses such as murder, rape, robbery and assault, contribute significantly to a safer living environment. This reduction in crime minimizes the chances of personal harm, property theft, or violent incidents. Furthermore, low crime rates can have a positive impact on property values and the overall desirability of an area. There were 169 crimes per 100,000 residents, which signifies that Lincoln boasts an impressively low violent crime rate that falls well below the national average.

A robust real estate market serves as a crucial economic indicator, reflecting the local area's strength, stability and the confidence of its residents. Lincoln excels in the housing sector, scoring high marks based on factors such as median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability. These calculations suggest that the apartment rental and real estate market in the region is exceptionally healthy, highlighting the area's economic vitality and attractiveness to potential homebuyers and renters.

Assuming that Lincoln meets all of your requirements like low crime rates, good schools and great local amenities, the next most important item to examine is the affordability of real estate in Lincoln. Everything else becomes a lot less important if it turns out that home prices in Lincoln are simply unattainable. The median home price for Lincoln homes is $168,109, which is 45.5% lower than the Illinois 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 2.3, which is 34.3% lower than the Illinois average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Lincoln

See all the best places to live around Lincoln

How Do You Rate The Livability In Lincoln?

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Compare Lincoln, IL Livability

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      Lincoln transportation information

      Statistic Lincoln Illinois National
      Average one way commute18min29min26min
      Workers who drive to work75.9%73.4%76.4%
      Workers who carpool12.6%8.3%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit0.9%9.2%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.9%0.6%0.6%
      Workers who walk5.4%3.1%2.8%
      Working from home4.3%4.4%4.6%
      Source: The Lincoln, IL data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) and include 2026 modeled data developed using proprietary methodologies.