Rents are 3% 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 $1,278 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% below trend in December and 1% above it in June, about $26 a month apart at today's median. Based on 10 years of data.
Rent in Lincoln is 0.2% below its high of $1,280 in July 2026, at $1,278 as of September 2026.
Rent in Lincoln changed +1.5% over the year to September 2026. Across the 11 Nebraska cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.2%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in Lincoln rose 32.6% while median household income rose 24.5% ($57,746 to $71,867). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in Lincoln is 36.7% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has fallen 2 months in a row, and rose in 8 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($71,867) is $1,797 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($1,691); a 4-bedroom is $1,811.
The priciest of 14 ZIP codes in Lincoln, 68512 ($1,626/mo), costs 2 times the cheapest, 68508 ($822/mo).
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, NE is majority owner-occupied, 41.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Lincoln, NE has changed in 5 years
Since 2021, the typical rent in Lincoln, NE has increased from $981 to $1,278, a 30.3% change over five years. On the earnings side, the typical household in Lincoln, NE now reports about $71,867, up from $62,566 in 2021. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has grown by 2.0% since 2021, moving from about 289,136 residents to roughly 294,856. For context, the 2021 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and Lincoln, NE reflects that arc in its own way.
Discussions about Lincoln
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At $1,278/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 $1,278/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $872/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,206/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $975/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,691/mo.
At 21% of local median household income ($71,867/yr), Lincoln ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.5% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Lincoln?
At $1,278/mo, rent takes ~21% of Lincoln's median household income ($71,867/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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