The Lincoln metro is home to 341,309 people (up 4.3% over five years), with a median household income of $73,095. Typical rent of $1,281/month works out to 21.0% of the median household income — comfortably below the 30% affordability threshold (Census ACS + Zillow, September 2026).
The share of Lincoln's workforce by sector — the base of tenant demand:
| Sector | % of workforce |
|---|---|
| Education & health care | 26.8% |
| Retail trade | 11.0% |
| Manufacturing | 9.8% |
| Professional & management | 9.7% |
| Finance, insurance & real estate | 8.0% |
Education & health care is the metro's largest employment base — sectors like education and health care are recession-resilient anchors for rental demand.
Rents at 21.0% of median income leave room for rent growth without pricing out the median tenant. Market pricing, yields and the Star Score live on the Lincoln market page; run a deal in the calculator.
At the 30%-of-income affordability rule, typical rent of $1,281/month suggests a household income around $51,000/year. The metro's median household income is $73,095.
By workforce share: Education & health care (26.8%), Retail trade (11.0%), Manufacturing (9.8%) (Census ACS 5-year).