
Residents in this area benefit from an affordable cost of living. This includes goods and services, transportation, housing, utilities, groceries and healthcare.
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.
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.
It appears that many amenities may not be conveniently situated within walking distance, potentially necessitating the use of a vehicle or public transit.
Commuters in this area may experience longer-than-average work commute times due to limited public transportation access.
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.
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.
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.

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 | Illinois | National |
| Average one way commute | 18min | 29min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 75.9% | 73.4% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 12.6% | 8.3% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 0.9% | 9.2% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 0.9% | 0.6% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 5.4% | 3.1% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 4.3% | 4.4% | 4.6% |