L incoln, Nebraska is known as both the state's capital and a major college town. But it is perhaps best known as representing the best of Midwestern cities. Packed with restaurants, a live music scene, parks, golf courses, fine dining, and shopping, all wrapped up with a classic down-to-earth Midwestern attitude. This is a diverse city, representing all ages, races and creeds. With an accepting attitude, and activities for everyone, Lincoln is one of the Midwest's fastest-growing metropolitan areas. It offers the best of a big city, full of arts, sports and the outdoors, at a fraction of the price of many of the United States' major cities.

Lincoln's population is just at the 250,000 mark, representing an increase of nearly seven percent since the year 2000. With several large colleges and universities in the area, the average age of Lincoln residents is slightly skewed, coming in at around 31 years old. Additionally, residents here have an annual household income of approximately $41,000 per year.

Home values in the are continue to increase, making them a good investment for their owners. But Lincoln is still a fairly affordable housing market, with something for nearly every price range. The median value of a home in the area, as listed on the 2004 Census, was $140,497. The majority of residents in the area are employed in two major sectors. Both the retail trade and manufacturing vie for the city's top employer. Again tying for second place are the sector of finance and insurance, and professional services, the sciences and technology.

Downtown Lincoln has become the city's hub for entertainment, shopping and dining. In recent years, there has been a resurgence to downtown living, with many folks choosing to live in the pedestrian-friendly downtown core. The Historic Haymarket is where you will find the city's Farmers' Market and a wealth of antique shops. The Lied Center is widely regarded as the cultural heart of downtown, and the Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery is the place to spend a day with some of the world's top works of art. Lincoln also has its own Children's Museum, where youngsters can interact, touch, and play while they learn. Downtown is also the place to see a variety of sporting events, catch a movie, or choose from over a hundred restaurants, bars, and nightclubs or over fifty art galleries and museums.

This area is consistently ranked as one of the best places to live. The state of Nebraska has spent years within the Top Ten lists of many livability studies. This is due, in large part, to its reputation for clean air and water, spacious living, and well-manicured neighborhoods. Folks here tend to be highly involved in their communities, with the majority involved in some type of volunteer work or service organization. Additionally, the region benefits from having a cost of living that is considerably below the national average. For residents, this means that Lincoln's wages are actually better than many major cities.

Lincoln also benefits from having a superior public school system. Its ratio of teachers to students ranks as one of the highest in the nation. Perhaps because of this, Lincoln has one of the highest graduation rates in the country, and achieve higher ACT and SAT scores than the national average. The area also has nearly twice the national average of state parks, including a well-maintained network of hiking and biking trails.

Lincoln and its residents are diverse, well-educated, and down-to-earth. This is a town that works hard and plays hard, with plenty of great food, live music, and festivals to bring folks together. Its strong economy ensures a healthy present and future for its residents, and make it an ideal place for families. If you are thinking of moving, consider a move to Lincoln, Nebraska, and request our free relocation packet today!