Rents are 7% below what Lincoln's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,897 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
December. Asking rents in Lincoln usually run 1.1% below trend in December and 0.7% above it in May, about $52 a month apart at today's median. Based on 10 years of data.
Rent in Lincoln is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in May 2016.
Rent in Lincoln changed +3.4% over the year to September 2026. Across the 336 California cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.4%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in Lincoln rose 33.2% while median household income rose 26.2% ($88,734 to $111,990). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in Lincoln is 38.2% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 2 months in a row, and rose in 10 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($111,990) is $2,800 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($2,800); a 3-bedroom is $3,800.
Rocklin, 9 miles away, rents for 17% less ($2,408/mo), about $5,900 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Lincoln. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Lincoln, CA is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income above the national average, 28.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Lincoln, CA has changed in 5 years
The median rent in Lincoln, CA stood at $2,362 in 2021 and currently runs about $2,897, reflecting a 22.7% increase over the period. On the earnings side, the typical household in Lincoln, CA now reports about $111,990, up from $93,232 in 2021. The population has contracted by 91.4% since 2021, moving from about 49,203 residents to roughly 4,241. Renters now make up 16.6% of households, compared with 18.7% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 28.7% of adults here, versus 35.2% in 2021. For context, the 2021 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and Lincoln, CA reflects that arc in its own way.
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At $2,897/mo, how Lincoln rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Lincoln rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Lincoln. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Lincoln
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Lincoln is $2,897/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,130/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,800/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,260/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,800/mo.
At 31% of local median household income ($111,990/yr), Lincoln ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.4% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does Lincoln rent compare to other cities in California?
At $2,897/mo, rent takes ~31% of Lincoln's median household income ($111,990/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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