Lincoln metropolitan area, Nebraska

Lincoln Metropolitan Area Lincoln, Nebraska Metropolitan Area
Metropolitan Statistical Area
Nebraska State Capitol
Interactive Map of Lincoln–Beatrice, NE CSA   City of Lincoln   Lincoln, NE MSA   Beatrice, NE µSA
Country	United States
State	Nebraska
Principal city	Lincoln
Other city	Beatrice
Area
• Total	1,420 sq mi (3,680 km2)
Population
• Total	344,387
GDP
• Total	$25.459 billion (2022)
Time zone	UTC−6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)

The Lincoln, NE Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, is a metropolitan area consisting of two counties in Nebraska, anchored by the city of Lincoln. As of the 2020 census, the metropolitan statistical area (MSA) had a population of 340,217. The MSA is a component of the Lincoln–Beatrice, NE Combined Statistical Area, which adds the Beatrice, NE micropolitan area (Gage County). The combined statistical area has an estimated population of 373,792 as of 2025.

Counties

• Lancaster
• Seward

Communities

The following is a list of the communities within the Lincoln metropolitan area and their respective populations in the 2020 United States census in descending order.

More than 250,000

• Lincoln – 291,082 (Principal City)

1,000–10,000

• Seward – 7,643
• Waverly – 4,279
• Hickman – 2,607
• Milford – 2,155
• Bennet – 1,082

200–1,000

• Utica – 840
• Firth – 649
• Malcolm – 457
• Beaver Crossing – 375
• Walton – 351
• Yankee Hill – 286
• Hallam – 268
• Staplehurst – 236
• Panama – 235
• Pleasant Dale – 218
• Garland – 210
• Roca – 201

Fewer than 200

• Denton – 189
• Goehner – 181
• Bee – 171
• Cheney – 164
• Raymond – 159
• Sprague – 136
• Davey – 135
• Martel – 125
• Cordova – 92
• Princeton – 51
• Emerald – 45
• Tamora – 40
• Prairie Home – 38
• Agnew - 30
• Kramer – 26

Additional Communities

The following are additional communities in the Lincoln metropolitan area not recognized as populated places by the US Census Bureau, in alphabetical order.

• Arbor
• Berks
• Grover
• Holland
• Rokeby
• Ruby
• Saltillo

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1900	64,835		—
1910	73,793		13.8%
1920	85,902		16.4%
1930	100,324		16.8%
1940	100,585		0.3%
1950	119,742		19.0%
1960	168,853		41.0%
1970	182,432		8.0%
1980	208,673		14.4%
1990	229,091		9.8%
2000	266,787		16.5%
2010	302,157		13.3%
2020	340,217		12.6%
2023 (est.)	344,387		1.2%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of the census of 2000, there were 266,787 people, 105,200 households, and 64,917 families residing within the MSA. The racial makeup of the MSA was 90.56% White, 2.66% African American, 0.61% Native American, 2.70% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 1.61% from other races, and 1.80% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.23% of the population.

The median income for a household in the MSA was $42,275, and the median income for a family was $52,745. Males had a median income of $33,469 versus $23,972 for females. The per capita income for the MSA was $19,822.

County	Seat	2025 estimate	2020 census	Change	Area	Density
Lancaster	Lincoln	334,049	322,608	+3.55%	846.383 sq mi (2,192.12 km2)	395/sq mi (152/km2)
Seward	Seward	18,032	17,609	+2.40%	575.886 sq mi (1,491.54 km2)	31/sq mi (12/km2)
Total		352,081	340,217	+3.49%	1,422.269 sq mi (3,683.66 km2)	248/sq mi (96/km2)

Lincoln–Beatrice, NE Combined Statistical Area

Statistical Area	2025 estimate	2020 Census	Change	Area	Density
Lincoln, NE Metropolitan Statistical Area	352,081	340,217	+3.49%	1,422.269 sq mi (3,683.66 km2)	248/sq mi (96/km2)
Beatrice, NE Micropolitan Statistical Area	21,711	21,704	+0.03%	859.950 sq mi (2,227.26 km2)	25/sq mi (10/km2)
Total	373,792	361,921	+3.28%	2,282.219 sq mi (5,910.92 km2)	164/sq mi (63/km2)

See also

• Nebraska census statistical areas