The typical owner-occupied home in Lincoln is worth about $264,000, 11% above the Nebraska median of $238,600 and 21% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $4,023 a year in property taxes, about 1.52% of their home's value, close to the Nebraska rate of 1.49%. The median household earns $71,867 a year, so the median home costs 3.7 times the median income (3.1 times for Nebraska). 56% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 64% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Lincoln at a glance
| Lincoln | Nebraska | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $264,000 | $238,600 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $4,023 | $3,549 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 1.52% | 1.49% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $71,867 | $76,475 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 56% | 67% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 64% | 58% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $1,697 | $1,736 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 19.5% | 19.5% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $1,086 | $1,072 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 28.9% | 27.9% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1982 | 1975 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 4.5% | 7.6% | 10.1% |
| Population | 294,856 | 1,978,707 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Lincoln
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Lincoln home of $264,000 with 20% down costs about $1,865 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $2,305, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.
Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $79,935 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 31% of the median Lincoln household income of $71,867; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $237,000.
The median rent here is $1,086 a month, so owning the median home costs about $779 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $52,800 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $211,200 |
| Principal and interest | $1,421 |
| Property taxes (1.52% a year) | $334 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $110 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $1,865 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $9,240 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $259,218 |
| Principal and interest | $1,744 |
| Property taxes (1.52% a year) | $334 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $110 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $117 |
| Total per month | $2,305 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Lincoln
What is the median home value in Lincoln?
About $264,000 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Lincoln?
Homeowners pay a median $4,023 a year, which is about 1.52% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.
What income do you need to buy a home in Lincoln?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,865 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $79,935 a year.
More about Lincoln
- Mortgage Refinance in Lincoln
- Debt Relief in Lincoln
- Home Equity Loans in Lincoln
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data