Population 15,399 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Lincoln
Household size in Lincoln
| Period | Lincoln | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.20 | 2.69 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.09 | 2.71 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.24 | 2.66 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.12 | 2.58 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.08 | −0.11 | −0.03 |
Lincoln is a place of small households, averaging 2.12 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has edged down from 2.20, mirroring the country. Of the 388 Illinois cities with 5,000+ people, only 15 have smaller households.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Lincoln
| Period | Lincoln | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.4 | 37.6 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 41.3 | 38.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 42.5 | 39.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 41.2 | 40.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +0.8 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Lincoln are younger than 41.2 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. The median age has crept up from 40.4 in 2006–10, as it has nationally. Residents skew youngest in the north and oldest in the southwest.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Lincoln
| Period | Lincoln | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.1% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.6% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.1% | 11.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 15.3% | 11.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | +3.2 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head just over one in seven households in Lincoln (15.3%), well above the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has risen 3.2 points since 2006–10, even as the national share fell. Lincoln has a higher share of single-parent households than at least four in five Illinois cities.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Lincoln
Renters in Lincoln
| Period | Lincoln | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 29.4% | 30.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 35.1% | 33.1% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 32.6% | 33.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 39.5% | 32.9% | 34.8% |
| Change | +10.1 pts | +2.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
About four in ten households in Lincoln rent their homes (39.5%), a bit above the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 37.9% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. Rentals cluster in the northwest; owners are most common in the center. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 10.1 points, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Lincoln
| Period | Lincoln | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.6% | 10.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 7.4% | 10.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 10.4% | 9.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 5.8% | 8.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | −3.8 pts | −1.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Fewer homes sit empty in Lincoln than nationally: 5.8%, against 9.6% for the U.S. Vacancy has fallen 3.8 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Lincoln
| Period | Lincoln | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1958 | 1966 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1959 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1962 | 1968 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1969 | 1970 | 1980 |
| Change | +10 | +4 | +6 |
The housing in Lincoln is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1969, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The median year built has moved up from 1958 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the northwest, while the center has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Lincoln
| Period | Lincoln | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $579 | $953 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $602 | $1,028 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $692 | $1,165 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $842 | $1,428 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$262 | +$475 | +$606 |
The median renter in Lincoln pays $842 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $262 a month from 2006–10, a 45% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 31.3% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the east; the highest are in the southwest.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Lincoln
Bachelor's degrees in Lincoln
| Period | Lincoln | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.8% | 31.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 20.1% | 32.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 21.8% | 34.7% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 22.1% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +1.2 pts | +6.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Lincoln: 22.1% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has edged up 1.2 points, a smaller shift than nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the north and least in the south.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Lincoln
| Period | Lincoln | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 87.4% | 86.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 90.2% | 87.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 90.1% | 89.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.8% | 90.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +7.4 pts | +4.0 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Lincoln: 94.8% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 7.4 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Lincoln
| Period | Lincoln | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.6% | 8.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.2% | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.4% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.4% | 6.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.2 pts | −2.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been easier to find in Lincoln than nationally: unemployment was 3.4%, against 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 3.2 points, mirroring the country. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Lincoln compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln | 2.12 | 41.2 | 15.3% | 39.5% | 5.8% | 1969 | $842 | 22.1% | 94.8% | 3.4% |
| Elkhart | 2.30 | 41.1 | 1.9% | 21.3% | 9.0% | 1962 | $785 | 13.7% | 82.1% | 4.8% |
| Lawndale | 2.36 | 35.9 | 10.4% | 25.3% | 12.6% | 1962 | $831 | 27.0% | 99.0% | 2.9% |
| Broadwell | 2.33 | 40.2 | 1.1% | 19.7% | 9.7% | 1964 | $773 | 11.4% | 78.4% | 4.5% |
| Hartsburg | 2.48 | 34.6 | 12.4% | 34.0% | 4.1% | 1960 | $1,023 | 29.7% | 96.7% | 8.7% |
| Beason | 2.60 | 41.7 | 13.3% | 18.0% | 8.0% | 1950 | $815 | 24.4% | 88.9% | 0.8% |
| Atlanta | 2.21 | 42.5 | 12.2% | 16.4% | 8.3% | 1959 | $840 | 20.3% | 96.8% | 3.4% |
| New Holland | 2.74 | 36.6 | 10.9% | 15.7% | 11.8% | 1943 | $885 | 27.4% | 98.0% | 16.3% |
| Mount Pulaski | 2.22 | 48.8 | 13.0% | 17.4% | 5.1% | 1946 | $752 | 20.9% | 93.9% | 2.7% |
| Middletown | 2.75 | 40.6 | 3.2% | 11.7% | 15.7% | 1971 | $724 | 36.6% | 94.9% | 1.9% |
| Chestnut | 2.52 | 47.0 | 9.1% | 12.5% | 4.7% | 1959 | $710 | 18.4% | 82.2% | 1.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Justice, IL · Riverside, RI · Rio Linda, CA · Rhinelander, WI · Plymouth Meeting, PA · Laurel, VA · Lake Wylie, SC · Lake Ronkonkoma, NY · Adelphi, MD · Key Biscayne, FL
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Lincoln. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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