PlainRelocate

Relocation profile · Federal data

Lincoln, NE

LiveAbility 63.2/100 places Lincoln #24 of 387 (top third of scored metros).

91.6
Cost index (US=100)
$1,141
2BR rent / mo
$65,897
Median salary
63.2
LiveAbility Score

The verdict

As of June 2026, Lincoln ranks #24 of 387 US metros on the LiveAbility Score (63.2/100), with its strongest marks in safety and schools.

#24
of 387 US metros · Excellent
2,005,465
metro-area population
217
violent crimes per 100K (state-level)
1,010
schools in the state (NCES)

Weakest dimension: low hazard (30/100). Weigh every dimension against your own priorities, use the City Finder to re-rank by what matters to you.

According to PlainRelocate's LiveAbility composite (BEA, BLS, HUD, FBI, NCES, EPA, NOAA, and FEMA inputs), Lincoln ranks #24 of 387 scored US metros by LiveAbility Score (highest score = #1). Cost-of-living index 91.6 (100 = national average), median 2-bedroom rent $1,141/mo, median salary $65,897; LiveAbility Score 63.2/100, strongest in safety and schools.

Signature: LiveAbility 63.2/100 places Lincoln #24 of 387 (top third of scored metros).

Purchasing power sits mid-band: BEA RPP 91.6 between corpus terciles 91.5 and 97.0. Median 2BR rent $1,141/mo.

LiveAbility 63.2/100 puts Lincoln in the top third (#24 of 387).

BLS OEWS total employment in the Lincoln area is 174,050.

Lincoln vs all US metros by LiveAbility Score

Where this metro's LiveAbility Score falls among every scored US metro (composite placement, not a desirability verdict)

63 Top 7% higher than 93% of 387 US metros

Metros banded by LiveAbility Score (0–100)

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source PlainRelocate LiveAbility Score · June 2026

Lincoln housing and rent

HUD Fair Market Rents for the Lincoln MSA; housing RPP 84.2 (100 = national average); 2BR $1,141/mo.

Studio
$855
/month
1 Bedroom
$926
/month
2 Bedroom
$1,141
/month
3 Bedroom
$1,587
/month
4 Bedroom
$1,712
/month

Lincoln wages and employment

Lincoln posts 174,050 total employment with median salary $65,897.

Median Salary
$65,897
Mean Salary
$69,281
Total Employment
174,050

Top Occupations by Employment

Occupation Median Salary
Fast Food and Counter Workers $28,510
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $81,790
Registered Nurses $87,530
Retail Salespersons $30,990
General and Operations Managers $92,780

Schools & Education

State-level education data for the Lincoln area from NCES.

Schools
1,010
Enrollment
327,234
Student:Teacher
13.5:1
Title I %
0%

Childcare Costs

State-average childcare costs for the Lincoln area (DOL data).

Infant (Center)
$9,863
per year
Toddler (Center)
$9,338
per year
Preschool (Center)
$8,545
per year

Life Score Breakdown

Lincoln's composite Life Score is 61.1/100 (C), computed across 7 of 7 dimensions.

Cost
66/100
Strong
Wages
51/100
Average
Rent
74/100
Strong
Crime
81/100
Elite
Schools
20/100
Weak
Childcare
56/100
Above average
Environment
68/100
Strong

LiveAbility Score

View full rankings →

Lincoln ranks #24 out of 387 metros with a LiveAbility Score of 63.2/100 - a composite of 8 of 8 quality-of-life dimensions from federal data. Customize the weights to match your priorities →

Strongest dimension: Safety (81/100)

Lincoln - dimension scores

Percentile vs all US metros (100 = best in the nation for that dimension)

score

What this shows Lincoln's strongest dimensions are safety and schools; its weakest among scored dims is low hazard at 30/100. Default weights: cost 18%, jobs & housing 15% each, safety & schools 12%, air & hazard 10%, climate 8%.

Source BEA · BLS · HUD · FBI · NCES · EPA · NOAA · FEMA As of Federal data, latest available vintage

Compare Lincoln to

Terre Haute Texarkana Toledo Topeka Traverse City Trenton-Princeton

Metros near Lincoln on cost, LiveAbility, or wages

Nearest out-of-state neighbors to Lincoln on BEA RPP, LiveAbility, or BLS median salary, a different lens than the size-ranked list.

Similar cost of living (BEA RPP)

Similar LiveAbility score

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026

Lincoln cost figures follow BEA Regional Price Parities and HUD Fair Market Rents; Lincoln wages and LiveAbility inputs follow BLS OEWS plus the federal sources listed in methodology. This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Scores are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation. How this data is sourced.

Verify with BEA → · Verify with BLS → · Verify with HUD → · Verify with NOAA → · Verify with FEMA → · Verify with Census →

Thinking about Lincoln?

Lincoln runs a $65,897 median salary at a 91.6 cost index, ranking #24 of 387 nationally on LiveAbility.

  • See exactly what Lincoln's pay and cost figures mean for your own budget. Salary calculator
  • Put Lincoln head-to-head against another city on the same dimensions. Compare Lincoln
  • Abilene is the closest related metro in this corpus -- see how it stacks up. Abilene profile
  • A cheaper cost index and a higher LiveAbility score don't always point the same direction -- here's how to weigh the trade-off. Cost vs quality guide

Cost, salary and score figures are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation.