City Report · NE

Lexington

Pop. 10,862·10th most expensive in Nebraska·One of the most affordable rental markets in the US
Median rent (all units)
$1,316/mo
Year-over-Year
Stable
Month-over-Month
-0.2%
vs US Median
-$616
Reported rents
Stable (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Lexington · $1,316
More affordable than 87% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo
Affordability
23% of income
VERY AFFORDABLE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,316/mo, rent takes about 23% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$53,000/yr
Local median income
$67,666/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Lexington's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$660
1 BR
$870
2 BR
$960
3 BR
$1,210
4 BR+
$1,270
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$960/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,316 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 →

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: September 25, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($67,666) is $1,692 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($1,270).

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Lexington. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost
$15,792/yr
At $1,316/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Balanced Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are roughly steady, with neither renters nor landlords holding a strong edge right now.
Based on rent-price momentum (+0.0% YoY, -0.2% MoM), not inventory.
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Demographics

Who lives here

Lexington, NE is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, 13.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
10,862
Median income
$67,666
Median age
31.3
Renters
42.6%
Age distribution
34.6%
21.3%
27.2%
Under 1834.6%
18–3421.3%
35–5427.2%
55–647.6%
65+9.3%
Gender
53.1%
46.9%
Male53.1%
Female46.9%
Race & ethnicity
26.9%
15.6%
64%
White26.9%
Black15.6%
Hispanic64%
Asian1.2%
Education (25+)
39.4%
26.1%
21.4%
13.1%
No HS diploma39.4%
HS diploma26.1%
Some college21.4%
Bachelor's+13.1%
Housing tenure
57.4%
42.6%
Owner57.4%
Renter42.6%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Lexington, NE has changed in 5 years

Income
$56,729 → $67,666
up 19.3%
Population
10,325 → 10,862
up 5.2%
Renter share
45.2% → 42.6%
-2.6 pts
Bachelor's+
15% → 13.1%
-1.9 pts
Median age
30.6 → 31.3
+0.7 yrs

Household income in the area moved from $56,729 to $67,666 across the same window, up 19.3% versus 2021. The population has grown by 5.2% since 2021, moving from about 10,325 residents to roughly 10,862. Renters now make up 42.6% of households, compared with 45.2% five years ago.

Community

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View Lexington rent history (2015–2026) →
Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Lexington on your salary?

At $1,316/mo, how Lexington rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Lexington rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Lexington. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Lexington

About renting in Lexington, NE

Last updated: September 25, 2026

The median rent in Lexington is $1,316/mo as of September 2026. A studio apartment averages $660/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $960/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $870/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,210/mo.

At 23% of local median household income ($67,666/yr), Lexington ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Lexington?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $53,000/year (about $25/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,316/mo in Lexington. The local median household income is $67,666/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Lexington?

Rent in Lexington has been roughly flat over the past year, a 0.0% change.

How does Lexington rent compare to other cities in Nebraska?

Lexington is one of the more affordable among Nebraska cities for rent, ranking #10 of 14 tracked cities at $1,316/mo.
Income Affordability
23%
VERY AFFORDABLE

At $1,316/mo, rent takes ~23% of Lexington's median household income ($67,666/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Lexington 23%Benchmark 30%
State income tax2.46–5.84%
Run the Lexington affordability calculator →
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Lexington, NE

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