County FMR · HUD FY2026

Lincoln County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Lincoln County, NE - 16% below the US average.

$802
1-bedroom FMR
$1,052
2-bedroom FMR
+14.1%
YoY change
-16%
vs US avg

The verdict

Lincoln is the 14th most expensive of 93 counties in Nebraska by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #1,478 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 14.1% since FY 2025, a sharp move relative to most counties.

#1,478
most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#14
most expensive of 93 in Nebraska (2BR)
+1%
vs the state average
$32,080
income to afford it (30% rule)

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (8.3%), while Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary spend the most (34.6%).

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Lincoln County, NE. Verify with HUD →

HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Lincoln County, Nebraska at $802 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,052/mo and a studio is $796/mo. This is 16% lower than the national average of $959 and 1% above the Nebraska average of $791.

Rent increased14.1% from FY 2025 ($703), outpacing inflation. The 30% affordability floor is comparatively reachable here at $32,080/year.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Nebraska. Population: 34,532. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (-3.7%, Census ACS). That's slower than Nebraska's statewide growth of +3.2% over the same period.

FMR filing desk

Area LINCOLN·COUNTY·NE·NE

Lincoln County, NE: $802/mo 1BR · #1478 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA NE
  • 1BR-FMR $802
  • 2BR-FMR $1,052
  • RANK-MID #1,478
  • YOY-SURGE +14.1%
  • VSUS-BELOW -16%
  • VS-ST-NEAR +1% NE
  • INC-ROOM 15%
  • POP-SMALL 35K
  • PHOTO-NEAR Douglas County
  • VOUCH-90-110 $722–$882
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: Douglas ($346 1BR gap)

Read with: Section 8 housing guide

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $706 · US avg: $893
$796/mo
↑ 14.0% YoY +13% vs state -11% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $791 · US avg: $959
$802/mo
↑ 14.1% YoY +1% vs state -16% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,001 · US avg: $1,175
$1,052/mo
↑ 14.1% YoY +5% vs state -10% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,274 · US avg: $1,525
$1,261/mo
↑ 9.2% YoY -1% vs state -17% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $1,409 · US avg: $1,756
$1,520/mo
↑ 10.5% YoY +8% vs state -13% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $698
$796
+$98 (+14.0%)
1 Bedroom $703
$802
+$99 (+14.1%)
2 Bedroom $922
$1,052
+$130 (+14.1%)
3 Bedroom $1,155
$1,261
+$106 (+9.2%)
4 Bedroom $1,375
$1,520
+$145 (+10.5%)

Rent Burden Analysis

How much of household income goes to rent in Lincoln County. The 30% threshold indicates cost burden.

Studio
14.8%
Affordable
Need $31,840/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
15%
Affordable
Need $32,080/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
19.6%
Affordable
Need $42,080/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
23.5%
Affordable
Need $50,440/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
28.3%
Affordable
Need $60,800/yr for 30% rule
How we calculate this

Rent burden = (FMR × 12) ÷ county median household income. Required income = (FMR × 12) ÷ 0.3, the federal 30%-of-gross-income rule HUD uses to define cost burden. Median household income is from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey; FMR is from HUD's FY2026 release. See methodology.

0%100%National avg22%19.6%
Lincoln County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $64,342 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Nebraska rent burden →

Where Lincoln sits among every US county

2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties

$1,052 higher than 53% of 3,145 counties

$600–$800: 23 counties (1%). Below this entry. $800–$1,000: 1,406 counties (45%). Below this entry. $1,000–$1,200: 723 counties (23%). This entry sits in this band. $1,200–$1,400: 417 counties (13%). Above this entry. $1,400–$1,600: 181 counties (6%). Above this entry. $1,600–$1,800: 172 counties (5%). Above this entry. $1,800–$2,000: 108 counties (3%). Above this entry. $2,000–$2,200: 29 counties (1%). Above this entry. $2,200–$2,400: 40 counties (1%). Above this entry. $2,400–$2,600: 13 counties (0%). Above this entry. $2,600–$2,800: 9 counties (0%). Above this entry. $2,800–$3,000: 15 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,000–$3,200: 3 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,200–$3,400: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,400–$3,600: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,600–$3,800: 3 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,800–$4,000: 0 counties (0%). Above this entry. $4,000–$4,200: 0 counties (0%). Above this entry. $4,200–$4,400: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. This county $600 $4,400 every US county, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $0.2K-wide band; taller bars hold more counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Fair Market Rents · FY2026

How Lincoln compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Nebraska counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Lincoln is highlighted. Nearby Nebraska counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Douglas County ($1,148), Sarpy County ($1,148), Hall County ($978), Lancaster County ($926), Buffalo County ($863), Dodge County ($861), Lincoln County (this county) ($802).

Source U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) As of FY2026

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

With a below-average 1-bedroom at $802/mo, most of these Nebraska occupations clear, or miss, the 30% affordability line.

Occupation NE Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $116,420 8.3% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $82,570 11.7% Affordable
Registered Nurses $81,020 11.9% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $72,160 13.3% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $69,980 13.8% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $61,700 15.6% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $61,410 15.7% Affordable
Electricians $60,020 16% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $57,940 16.6% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $41,400 23.2% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $40,790 23.6% Affordable
Janitors & Cleaners $35,820 26.9% Affordable
Retail Salespersons $30,350 31.7% Stretched
Fast Food & Counter Workers $29,420 32.7% Stretched
Teaching Assistants $27,840 34.6% Stretched
Salaries: BLS OES (Nebraska) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

7-year Fair Market Rent history for Lincoln County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Lincoln (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 49.1% overall, from $538 to $802. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +14.1% in FY 2026, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.

$500$600$700$800$900 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $802
Lincoln County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑14.1% $796 $802 $1,052
FY 2025 ↑3.4% $698 $703 $922
FY 2024 ↑4.1% $675 $680 $893
FY 2023 ↑13.2% $648 $653 $859
FY 2022 ↑3.0% $573 $577 $759
FY 2021 ↑4.1% $556 $560 $738
FY 2020 $536 $538 $709
Total change (6yr): +49.1%
Annualized: +6.9%/yr
1 BR: $538 → $802

Part of the North Platte, NE Micro Area

Lincoln County is a central county of the North Platte, NE micropolitan statistical area, alongside 1 other micro-area county.

Lincoln County ranks #1 of 2 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Lincoln County (this county) ($802), Logan County ($732).

Lincoln County (this county)
1 BR: $802/mo
Logan County
1 BR: $732/mo

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Lincoln County, both outside Nebraska so the link neighborhoods are not the same-state geography lattice above. Axes stay disjoint: burden peers exclude the FMR peer set.

Similar 2-bedroom FMR

Nearest HUD 2BR Fair Market Rents outside NE (FY2026).

Lancaster County
VA · 2 BR $1,052/mo
Columbia County
WA · 2 BR $1,052/mo
Black Hawk County
IA · 2 BR $1,051/mo
Tioga County
PA · 2 BR $1,051/mo

Similar rent burden

Nearest 2BR FMR as a share of median household income (outside NE).

Henry County
IL · 19.6% of income · 2 BR $1,143/mo
Bedford County
TN · 19.6% of income · 2 BR $1,017/mo
LaPorte County
IN · 19.6% of income · 2 BR $1,152/mo
Otsego County
MI · 19.6% of income · 2 BR $1,100/mo

Nearby Counties in Nebraska

Largest counties by population in Nebraska

Showing the 8 largest of 92 other counties in Nebraska.

Douglas County
1 BR: $1,148/mo Pop: 582,638
Lancaster County
1 BR: $926/mo Pop: 322,063
Sarpy County
1 BR: $1,148/mo Pop: 191,272
Hall County
1 BR: $978/mo Pop: 62,575
Buffalo County
1 BR: $863/mo Pop: 50,103
Dodge County
1 BR: $861/mo Pop: 37,175
Scotts Bluff County
1 BR: $758/mo Pop: 36,048
Madison County
1 BR: $758/mo Pop: 35,538
View all counties in Nebraska →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Lincoln County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Lincoln County is $802 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,052 and a studio is $796.
How does Lincoln County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Lincoln County is 16% below the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $802 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Lincoln County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Lincoln County's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,052 ranks #1,478 most expensive among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the middle half of HUD counties.
What income do I need to afford rent in Lincoln County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $32,080 ($2,673/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Lincoln County.
Is rent going up or down in Lincoln County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Lincoln County increased by 14.1% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $703 to $802.
Which jobs can afford rent in Lincoln County? ▼
Based on Nebraska BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $802/mo. 12 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Lincoln County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Lincoln County went from $538 in FY 2020 to $802 in FY 2026, a total change of +49.1% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Lincoln County? ▼
In Lincoln County, the FY 2026 FMR of $802/mo for a 1-bedroom sets the baseline that local housing authorities use for Section 8 payment standards.
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Lincoln County? ▼
For Lincoln County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($802/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and HUD Fair Market Rents. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.

All federal data sources used on this page
  • HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) - county-level fair-market rent estimates by bedroom count. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr
  • HUD Income Limits - area median income for affordability calculations. huduser.gov/datasets/il
  • HUD Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS) - rent burden and housing-cost distribution. huduser.gov/datasets/cp
  • U.S. Census Bureau ACS - county and metro housing characteristics + median rent. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
  • BLS Consumer Price Index, Rent of Primary Residence - rent inflation by metro. bls.gov/cpi
  • IRS Migration Data (SOI) - interstate migration aggregates affecting county demand. irs.gov/statistics/migration
  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics - state-level median wages by occupation, used for job affordability analysis. bls.gov/oes

Every figure on PlainRent is rendered directly from HUD's published Fair Market Rent records, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of FY 2026.