Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
For a city of 301,522, Lincoln does unevenly: it grades C, 46th of 57 graded towns in Nebraska. CDC estimates put its residents' health ahead of 82% of the country and it is easier to get around on foot or by transit than 93% of U.S. towns. The trade-off: its crime rate is higher than 83% of U.S. towns, with 1,277 violent crimes reported to the FBI in 2025. 79% of working residents work locally in Lincoln, above both the Nebraska town median (33%) and the median of U.S. towns (8%). Its National Register listings include Fairview and Nebraska State Capitol. Only 6 of Nebraska’s 133 towns score lower on cost of living.
Where Lincoln beats most towns.
Fairview| College | Students |
|---|---|
| University of Nebraska-Lincoln | 22,418 |
| Southeast Community College Area | 6,951 |
| Nebraska Wesleyan University | 1,599 |
Fairview is one of 2 National Historic Landmarks here, the National Register’s top tier. Its 104 National Register listings are more than in 98% of Nebraska towns with a listing.
Census counts: 2,441 in 1870, 291,082 in 2020. The archive holds 24 old photos and papers going back to 1874 and 3 maps from 1964 on.
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Nebraska), ordered by how far Lincoln is from typical.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Who provides power, water and the rest in Lincoln, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 30, 2026.
Ordered by what stands out in Lincoln.
At 38.5 crimes per 1,000 residents a year, it reports more crime than 97% of Nebraska’s graded towns. Reported crimes fell from 8,948 to 7,008 over the last three FBI years, a drop beyond ordinary year-to-year swings.
Lincoln’s violent crime rate is 4.2 per 1,000 residents. Among 45 Nebraska towns, just 4 have a higher property crime rate than Lincoln. Lincoln reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 83% report less.
| Lincoln | Nebraska towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 4.2 per 1,000 residents | 1 | 1.6 |
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 18.9 per 1,000 residents | 7 | 9.9 |
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Its public schools are run by the Lincoln Public Schools. Three of its 103 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scott Middle SchoolLargest public middle schoolGrades 6–8 | Grades 6–8 | 1,020 | A |
| Southwest High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 2,110 | A− |
| Adams Elementary SchoolTop results in townGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 767 | A+ |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within NE on state tests and graduation
30% of adults have high blood pressure in Lincoln. Among 57 Nebraska towns, just 1 have a higher share of adults who have been diagnosed with depression than Lincoln. 9.5% of adults have diabetes in Lincoln.
| Lincoln | Nebraska towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 21% | 19% | 16% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 11% | 13% | 14% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 34% | 35% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 21% | 28% | 25% |
| What stands out | Lincoln | NE |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 9.1% | 12.4% |
| Fewer adults who get no exercise | 21% | 24.3% |
| More adults with depression | 20.9% | 18.3% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
40 miles of trail in 134 parks and preserves. The biggest place to walk is Holmes Lake Park, 580 acres with 5.4 miles of trail.
| Lincoln | Nebraska towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conserved land | 6.6% | 3.6% | 4.3% |
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.4 miles per square mile | 0.3 | 0.4 |
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Holmes Lake Park | 5.4 mi | 580 |
| 2. Antelope Park South | 1.3 mi | 107 |
| 3. Lincoln Regional Center Arboretum | 0.9 mi | 90 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Lincoln has cold winters and warm summers. The July high in Lincoln is 88°F.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Adults 18 to 34 are 30% of residents (23% statewide). 42% of Lincoln adults 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree or more. Lincoln has grown 3.5% since 2020, to 301,522 residents in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate.
| Lincoln | Nebraska towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.4 years | 37.8 years | 40.5 years |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 42% | 28% | 29% |
| Aged 65 or older | 15% | 19% | 18% |
| Under 18 | 22% | 24% | 22% |
49.8% women, 50.2% men
About 101 men for every 100 women. Across Nebraska, 49.7% of residents are women. Median age: women 34.2, men 32.7.
| Lincoln | NE | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 12% | 13.1% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 9.8% | 11.4% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 15.6% | 9.8% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 14.4% | 12.9% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 12.6% | 13.1% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 10.4% | 11.1% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 10.2% | 11.9% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 8.9% | 9.9% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 5.9% | 6.8% | 7% |
| No diploma | 6.8% | 7.8% | 10.4% |
| High school | 20.4% | 25% | 26% |
| Some college | 20.1% | 21.6% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 10.9% | 11% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 26.5% | 22.3% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 15.3% | 12.3% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Since 2013, Lincoln has added 12,519 jobs, to 158,564 in 2023. The top destinations are Omaha (7%), Waverly (1%) and Grand Island (0%). Half commute less than 5 miles.
| Lincoln | Nebraska towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 18 minutes | 17 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Work from home | 11% | 5.4% | 11% |
| Below the poverty line | 13% | 11% | 9.6% |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
The typical Lincoln home is worth about $291,000, up 2.8% in a year, close to the Nebraska typical home. Only 5 of the 57 Nebraska towns we compare have a lower share of households owning their home than Lincoln.
| Lincoln | Nebraska towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 56% | 67% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,086 a month | $907 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent | 47% | 43% | 48% |
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 50% of U.S. communities. Since 1981, 130 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Lincoln.
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Lincoln. Close and well known come first.
in town Stadium & arenaMemorial Stadium
in town Stadium & arenaPinnacle Bank Arena
in town MuseumSheldon Museum of Art
23 mi MuseumStrategic Air and Space Museum
in town MuseumUniversity of Nebraska State Museum
in town MuseumMuseum of American SpeedMemorial Stadium: Bobak Ha'Eri, CC BY 3.0 · Pinnacle Bank Arena: CrunchySkies, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Sheldon Museum of Art: Ammodramus, CC0 · Strategic Air and Space Museum: User Kandykornhead on en.wikipedia, Public domain · University of Nebraska State Museum: Hanyou23, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Museum of American Speed: Amjackson16, CC BY-SA 4.0
5 within 15 miles of the center of Lincoln
About 12 of every 100 Lincoln residents are enrolled in college, against 7 across Nebraska.
5 colleges in town.
104 places in Lincoln on the National Register of Historic Places.
45 notable people were born in Lincoln.
Capital of Nebraska, United States
Lincoln is the capital city of the U.S. state of Nebraska. The city covers 103.9 square miles (269.1 km2) and had a population of 291,082 as of the 2020 census (301,522 estimated in 2025). It is the second-most populous city in Nebraska and the 72nd-most populous in the United States. The county seat of Lancaster County, Lincoln is the economic and cultural anchor of the Lincoln, Nebraska metropolitan area, home to approximately 345,000 people. Lincoln was founded in 1856 as the village of Lancaster on the wild salt marshes and arroyos of what became Lancaster County. Renamed after President Abraham Lincoln, it became Nebraska's state capital in 1869. The Bertram G. Goodhue–designed state c…
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
3 towns share a border with Lincoln.
| Town | NE rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln | #46 | C | C | C− | C+ | A− |
| Yankee Hill | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Walton | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Cheney | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Yankee Hill, Walton and Cheney aren’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Compare Lincoln with a neighbor →
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Lincoln grades C overall, better than 34% of U.S. towns and #46 of 57 in Nebraska. It grades A− for health, C− for safety and C+ for schools. Safety is its weak spot, with a C−.
That is 3.9 years of the area's median household income ($75,049 across the Lincoln, NE metro area). Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C.
45 notable people were born here, including Hilary Swank and Brandon Sanderson.
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