Cost of Living in Lexington, NE

Population 10,693 · Nebraska · Data vintage 2023

59
Cost Index
(100 = US avg)
Page updated: · Data vintage: 2023 ACS 5-Year
Sources: Census ACS·BLS·NOAA·EPA·Zillow · Methodology

Lexington is a smaller Nebraska community of around 11000 residents, where median household incomes of $62,364 and housing costs ($155,000 for a typical home) give the local cost-of-living profile a distinctly small-town shape. The labor market has been unusually tight, with unemployment around 2.8% — below most comparable cities in the state.

Located 160 miles west of Lincoln, Lexington is far enough out that local conditions diverge meaningfully from the big-metro baseline. Median home values run roughly 37% lower than Lincoln's $248,000.

Cost Overview

Housing 51
Rent 70

Scale: 100 = US national average. Green < 90, Red > 110.

About the Cost of Living in Lexington

The median home value in Lexington is $155,200 — 49% below the national median of $305,000. Median rent runs $921/month, 30% lower than the national median of $1,314/month. The median household income of $62,364/year is 16% lower than the US median of $74,580. The local unemployment rate is 2.8%, below the national average of 4.8%. Nebraska's top state income tax rate is 5.8% and the combined sales tax is 6.9%. Overall, Lexington has a cost of living index of 59 versus the US average of 100, meaning it is 41% less expensive.

🏠 Housing

Median Home Value
$155,200
49% below avg
Zillow Home Value
$201,212
Zillow ZHVI
Median Rent
$921/mo
30% below avg
Zillow Rent
$1,272/mo
Zillow ZORI
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.0x
Favors buying
Property Tax Rate
1.7%
Effective rate

HUD Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$622
1 BR
$703
2 BR
$907
3 BR
$1,155
4 BR
$1,220
Owner-occupied 55.3%
Renter-occupied 44.7%

💰 Estimated Monthly Budget

Rent median rent
$921
Groceries national estimate
$400
Utilities local estimate
$88
Transportation local gas prices
$126
Estimated Total $1,535/mo

Estimates based on median data and national averages. Actual costs vary.

🛒 Food & Groceries

National BLS average prices (2023). Local prices may vary.

🥚
Eggs (dozen)
$0.548
🍞
White Bread (lb)
$1.912
🥩
Ground Beef (lb)
$5.61

🚗 Transportation

Avg Commute
16.9 min
37% below avg
Gas Price
$3.145/gal
0% below avg
Work From Home
0.3%

Commute Mode

Drove alone
70.8%
Carpooled
24.0%
Public transit
1.4%
Walked
0.2%
Bicycle
0.8%
Work from home
0.3%

Utilities

Electricity
$0.176/kWh
0% below avg

📋 Taxes

State Income Tax 5.8%
Total Sales Tax 6.9%
State rate 5.5%
Avg local rate 1.4%
Property Tax 1.7%

💼 Income & Employment

Median Household Income
$62,364
16% below avg
Per Capita Income
$23,611
Unemployment Rate
2.8%
41% below avg
Poverty Rate
16.5%
Labor Force Participation
70.6%

🎓 Education

Bachelor's degree+ 11.8%
Graduate degree 2.2%

👥 Demographics

Median Age 30.9
Male median age 30.7
Female median age 32.1

🏫 Schools

NCES CCD 2019 — public school district data

95%
4-Year Graduation Rate
14.9:1
Student-teacher ratio
8
Public schools
3,169
Total enrollment

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cost of living in Lexington, NE?

Lexington has a cost index of 59 (100 = national average). It is 41% below the national average.

What is average rent in Lexington, NE?

The median gross rent in Lexington is $921 per month based on 2023 Census data.

What is the average home price in Lexington?

The median home value in Lexington is $155,200 according to Zillow and Census data.

What is the median income in Lexington?

The median household income in Lexington is $62,364 per year (2023 ACS 5-year estimates).

What is the sales tax in Lexington, NE?

The combined state and local sales tax rate in Lexington is 6.9%. The Nebraska state income tax top rate is 5.8%.

Is Lexington, NE affordable?

Yes, Lexington is generally considered affordable, with a cost of living index of 59 — about 41% below the US national average of 100.

Lexington at a Glance

Population
10,693
Median Income
$62,364
Home Value
$155,200
Median Rent
$921/mo
Unemployment
2.8%
Sales Tax
6.9%
View all cities in Nebraska →
🗺️ County data for Nebraska

Explore county-level cost of living data

Similar Cost Cities

Cities in other states with comparable housing costs