The Town FilesLincoln, Missouri
City in Benton County · population 1,144 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $142,600
- Household income
- $63,200
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 18 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 31.6
Lincoln is a city of 1,144 people in Benton County, Missouri. The median home is worth $142,600, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks better for families than 75% of Missouri towns, better transit than 72% of Missouri towns.
How Lincoln ranks
Percentile among Missouri towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Missouri towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Lincoln is worth $142,600, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $63,200, which is more affordable than 74% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $802 a month. 73.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lincoln | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $142,600 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $802 | $855 |
| Median household income | $63,200 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 73.1% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Lincoln
| People | Lincoln | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 31.6 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.3% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 39.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.9% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.8% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 6.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.5% | — |
| Work from home | 2.5% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 34.2 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.0% | 88.7% |
Weather in Lincoln
July highs average 87.5°F and January lows 19.0°F. About 42.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 18.4 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 34 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 114 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lincoln since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 20, 1973 about 4.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 50 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 26, 2024.
Severe weather in Benton County since 1996
Benton County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 21, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4741: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4490: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3482: Covid-19 |
| July 9, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4451: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| August 7, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4238: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Benton County
Benton County had 3,736 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $38,196 a year. Unemployment was 4.3% in 2023; in Lincoln itself the ACS puts it at 1.8%.
Public schools in Lincoln
2 public schools with 504 students, about 12.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| LINCOLN ELEM. | K-6 | 258 | 11.7 |
| LINCOLN HIGH | 7-12 | 246 | 12.9 |
Towns near Lincoln
- Cole Camp, MO8.3 mi · 1,104 people · home $171,500
- Warsaw, MO10.2 mi · 2,209 people · home $152,000
- Windsor, MO14.1 mi · 2,775 people · home $101,400
- Stover, MO18.7 mi · 1,006 people · home $151,500
- Sedalia, MO22.1 mi · 21,725 people · home $143,000
- Smithton, MO23.6 mi · 506 people · home $116,400
- Leeton, MO23.7 mi · 532 people · home $99,600
- Clinton, MO23.7 mi · 9,174 people · home $155,400
Lincoln questions
Is Lincoln, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lincoln scores better for retirees than 45% of Missouri towns and quieter than 65%. 19.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 31.6).
How much does a house cost in Lincoln?
The median owner-occupied home in Lincoln is valued at $142,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $63,200, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $802 a month.
What is the weather like in Lincoln?
July highs average 87.5°F and January lows 19.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.5 inches of precipitation a year and 18.4 inches of snow.
Does Lincoln get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lincoln since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 20, 1973. The typical Missouri town has had 23.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)