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Living in
Lincoln.
About
Life in Lincoln
Lincoln is a community of 13,406 people in Illinois. The median household income is $57,340, median rent runs about $828 per month, and median home values are around $124,300. The unemployment rate is 4.9%.
Lincoln at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
39.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
17.0%
Foreign-Born
1.4%
Broadband Internet
89.6%
of households
Population Growth
-2.3%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics1.4% foreign-born, most often from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan
Who lives in Lincoln: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Lincoln, the largest foreign-born group is from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan (19.7%), and 1.0% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
18.6%
of residents
65 and Older
22.2%
of residents
Households with Kids
25.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
36.1%
of households
Married Couples
35.0%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.01
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 35% below IL average
Rent, home values, and income in Lincoln
In Lincoln, rent runs 35% below the IL average, and home values are 53% below the IL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
47.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
22.7%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$2,209
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
56.9%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1967
median year built
Vacant Homes
4.0%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $137,263 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for IL
Unemployment in Lincoln
Unemployment in Logan County, which includes Lincoln, is close to the IL average.
Unemployment rate
Lincoln: Logan County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Logan County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Lincoln Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute18.2 min avg
How Lincoln residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Lincoln, most residents drive alone to work (79%), and 76% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 27 mi
Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport (SPI)
Regional airport · few flights49k passengers boarded in 2025
- 110 mi
St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL)
Medium hub7.5M passengers boarded in 2025
- 148 mi
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
Major hub40.7M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 11% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Lincoln runs 11% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
292.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,500.4
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Lincoln Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 18 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
58.1 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Logan County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Logan County, which includes Lincoln, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 18 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 18 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2024 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2023 | 16 | Tornado | None reported |
| 2022 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $10,000 |
| 2021 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | $300,000 |
| 2020 | 3 | Thunderstorm Wind | $265,000 |
| 2019 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $81,000 |
| 2018 | 5 | Thunderstorm Wind | $95,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Logan County, county-wide
Air Quality44 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Macon County, IL (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 30 miles from Lincoln) is typically good — 237 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
44
Good Days
237
per year
Moderate Days
125
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Macon County, IL (30 mi away)
Climate84°F summers, 21°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Lincoln has warm summers (avg high 84°F) and cold winters (avg low 21°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
64°/41°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
84°/62°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
66°/42°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
38°/21°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
39.8"
Annual Snowfall
19.3"
Hot Days/Year
24
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
126
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
118
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 35°F | 18°F | 2.17" |
| Feb | 40°F | 22°F | 1.92" |
| Mar | 52°F | 31°F | 2.70" |
| Apr | 64°F | 41°F | 4.24" |
| May | 75°F | 52°F | 4.37" |
| Jun | 83°F | 61°F | 4.16" |
| Jul | 86°F | 64°F | 4.91" |
| Aug | 84°F | 61°F | 3.47" |
| Sep | 79°F | 53°F | 3.30" |
| Oct | 66°F | 42°F | 3.42" |
| Nov | 51°F | 32°F | 2.88" |
| Dec | 39°F | 23°F | 2.29" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Lincoln
Lincoln has 1 hospital, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
3.3%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital
Critical Access Hospitals · ER available
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education12.6:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Lincoln
Lincoln's student/teacher ratio is 12.6:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 20.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
9
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
20.3%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.6:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Lincoln Home National Historic Site, 28 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Lincoln
Lincoln has 3 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Lincoln Home National Historic Site (28 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Lincoln Home National Historic Site
National Historic Site
28 mi awaySpringfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument
National Monument
28 mi awayNew Philadelphia National Historic Site
National Historic Site
90 mi awayPublic Libraries in Lincoln
Lincoln Public Library District
725 Pekin Street, Lincoln
Annex Branch
622 Broadway Street, Lincoln
Cities Near Lincoln
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Lincoln?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Lincoln FAQ
Is Lincoln, Illinois affordable?⌄
Lincoln's median rent is $828/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $57,340/year. Median home value is $124,300.
Is Lincoln, Illinois safe?⌄
Lincoln's violent crime rate was 292 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2500 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Lincoln, Illinois?⌄
Logan County, which includes Lincoln, has an unemployment rate of 4.8%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Lincoln, Illinois?⌄
The cost of living in Lincoln is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $828/month and median household income is $57,340/year. The median home value is $124,300. About 48% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Lincoln, Illinois?⌄
The average commute in Lincoln is 18 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from