%
CapRateCity
Free cap rate calculators for every US market
MarketsNebraskaLexingtonCost of Living & Affordability

Cost of Living & Affordability: Lexington, NE

Updated 2026 · Based on median market data for Lexington, NE

Cap Rate
4.63%
Median Price
$205K
Rent/Mo
$1,270
1% Rule
0.62%
Fails

Housing Affordability

Lexington's price-to-income ratio is 3.7x — homes cost 3.7 times the local median household income of $55,067. This is moderately affordable. A healthy portion of the workforce can still aspire to homeownership, but many find renting more practical — creating a solid tenant base of working professionals.

Rent vs Buy Analysis

A typical mortgage payment on a median-priced home in Lexington (20% down at 7%) is approximately $1,363/mo for principal and interest alone — add taxes and insurance and the all-in payment reaches roughly $1,708. The median rent of $1,270/mo is roughly comparable to buying costs — in this environment, renters choose flexibility while buyers choose equity building. When renting is cheaper than buying, the renter pool stays deep and vacancy stays low.

Income & Employment

The median household income in Lexington is $55,067, with a population of 50,000 growing at 0.7% per year. Lexington is a smaller market. Research the local employment base carefully — smaller cities can be significantly impacted by a single employer's decisions. Moderate population growth indicates a stable economic foundation.

What This Means for Investors

Lexington is affordable with moderate returns. Focus on volume — the low entry point lets you scale to multiple properties faster than in more expensive markets.

Sponsored · Want to analyze a specific property? DealCheck imports real listing data and runs the full analysis for you.
Try Free →

How Lexington Compares

Lexington vs Nebraska state average and national average across key investment metrics. Lexington outperforms both benchmarks on cap rate.

Metric
Lexington
Nebraska Avg
National Avg
Cap Rate
4.63%
3.33%
3.81%
Median Price
$205K
$250K
$333K
Median Rent
$1,270
$1,258
$1,524
Property Tax
1.62%
1.62%
1.08%
Vacancy
5.2%
5.2%
5.6%
Pop. Growth
0.7%/yr
0.7%/yr
0.9%/yr

Nearby Midwest Markets

City
Cap Rate
Price
Rent
Tax
Lexington, NE
4.6%
$205K
$1,270
1.62%
Canton, OH
3.2%
$205K
$1,030
1.58%
Greenville, OH
1.3%
$205K
$680
1.58%
St. Joseph, MO
3.0%
$205K
$910
1.25%
Topeka, KS
4.0%
$210K
$1,160
1.39%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lexington affordable for renters?
Renters in Lexington spend approximately 28% of median household income on rent. This is within the standard 30% affordability threshold, suggesting renters have room in their budgets. The median household income is $55,067, below the level needed for comfortable renting.
What is the price-to-income ratio in Lexington?
Lexington's price-to-income ratio is 3.7x, meaning homes cost 3.7 times the local median income. This is very affordable — below the 4x threshold that typically signals a healthy buyer's market.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Lexington?
A mortgage payment (20% down, 7% rate) on the median $205K home is approximately $1,091/mo before taxes and insurance. Adding those costs brings it to roughly $1,436/mo. The median rent of $1,270/mo is less than the cost of buying — this parity means some renters could transition to buying.
How does Lexington's cost of living compare to the national average?
Home prices in Lexington ($205K) are 39% below the national average. Rents ($1,270/mo) are 17% below average. Property taxes (1.62%) are above the 1.08% national average.
Full Lexington Analysis →Cap Rate CalculatorBRRRR Calculator

Explore Lexington & Related Markets

More Lexington Guides

Rental Property Investment GuideRent AnalysisProperty Tax GuideAppreciation & Growth ForecastNeighborhood Investment Guide

Similar Markets in the Midwest

Youngstown, OH$165K · $1,050/mo
4.6%
Kokomo, IN$185K · $1,010/mo
4.6%
Burlington, IA$140K · $870/mo
4.7%
Cambridge, OH$160K · $1,020/mo
4.8%
Kankakee, IL$215K · $1,400/mo
4.5%
The CapRateCity Report
Weekly market analysis: highest cap rate cities, emerging markets, and deal breakdowns. Free, no spam.