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Lincoln County, Nebraska Demographics 2026

Lincoln County, Nebraska has a population of 33,802, the 10th most populous county in Nebraska. The median household income is $65,148 and the median home value is $189,500. The poverty rate is 12.4%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Lincoln County Quick Facts

Population 33,802
Median Household Income $65,148
Median Home Value $189,500
Poverty Rate 12.4%
Unemployment Rate 3.6%
Median Age 42.4 years
Homeownership Rate 65.6%
Affordability Ratio 2.9x
Bachelor's Degree+ 22.7%
High School Graduation 94.3%
Cities/Places 7
Population 33,802 10th of 93
Median Income $65,148 15% lower than state
Poverty Rate 12.4%
Unemployment 3.6%

How Lincoln County Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population34,12233,802-0.9%
Median household income$64,342$65,148+1.3%
Median home value$183,100$189,500+3.5%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 17.4%
$25K-$50K 20.9%
$50K-$100K 32.8%
$100K+ 28.9%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
3.7%
$10K-$15K
5.3%
$15K-$20K
3.6%
$20K-$25K
4.8%
$25K-$30K
3.8%
$30K-$35K
4.8%
$35K-$40K
5.2%
$40K-$45K
3.6%
$45K-$50K
3.4%
$50K-$60K
7.6%
$60K-$75K
10.4%
$75K-$100K
14.8%
$100K-$125K
10.9%
$125K-$150K
5.8%
$150K-$200K
7.4%
$200K+
4.8%

Employment

3.6% Unemployment Rate State: 3.0%|National: 5.2%
64.6% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 65.6%
Renter 34.4%
Affordability Index Very Affordable
2.9x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $900/mo 16.6% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

25out of 100
Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 41 | National average: 61

Education

Cities & Places in Lincoln County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
North Platte22,831$58,09715.4%$169,100
Sutherland1,209$72,8579.8%$188,200
Hershey724$91,4587.0%$172,000
Brady470$80,8336.3%$151,200
Wallace266$63,1253.0%$107,900
Maxwell174$87,5004.6%$91,300
Wellfleet74$49,7921.4%$71,700

Population Overview

Lincoln County is located in Nebraska with a total population of 33,802. It is the 10th most populous county out of 93 in Nebraska. The county encompasses 7 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Lincoln County is 42.4 years. This is 14% higher than the state median of 37.2 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Lincoln County is $65,148. This is 15% lower than the state median of $76,475. It is also 19% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 12.4%. This is 17% higher than the state poverty rate of 10.6%. The unemployment rate is 3.6%. This is 20% higher than the state rate of 3.0%. The median home value is $189,500. Housing costs are 21% lower than the state median of $238,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.9x, Lincoln County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 65.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 1% lower than the state average of 66.5%.

Race & Ethnicity

Lincoln County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 86.0% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 9.3%. The Black or African American population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 4.6%. The Asian population (0.7%) is well below the state average of 2.6%.

Education

22.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 34% lower than the state rate of 34.6%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 94.3%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Lincoln County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Nebraska and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Lincoln County, Nebraska?

Lincoln County has a population of 33,802, making it the 10th most populous county in Nebraska.

What is the median income in Lincoln County?

The median household income in Lincoln County is $65,148 with a poverty rate of 12.4%.

How many cities are in Lincoln County, Nebraska?

Lincoln County contains 7 Census-designated places.