Who moves to Lincoln, and where they go
Every year the IRS counts how many people move between counties, based on the addresses on their tax returns. Here is what that shows for Lancaster County, NE, home of Lincoln, between the 2022 and 2023 tax years.
- Moved in
- 10,659from other US counties
- Moved out
- 10,961to other US counties
- Net
- −302more departures than arrivals
- From abroad
- 72tax filers and dependents only
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Where newcomers come from
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Douglas County, NE (Omaha) | 981 |
| Sarpy County, NE | 371 |
| Hall County, NE | 276 |
| Gage County, NE | 264 |
| Saline County, NE | 255 |
| Seward County, NE | 244 |
| Saunders County, NE | 228 |
| Buffalo County, NE | 214 |
| Otoe County, NE | 194 |
| Cass County, NE | 187 |
| Maricopa County, AZ (Phoenix) | 170 |
| Platte County, NE | 140 |
Where people go when they leave
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Douglas County, NE (Omaha) | 1,401 |
| Sarpy County, NE | 503 |
| Seward County, NE | 319 |
| Gage County, NE | 302 |
| Saunders County, NE | 272 |
| Maricopa County, AZ (Phoenix) | 224 |
| Cass County, NE | 216 |
| Saline County, NE | 201 |
| Otoe County, NE | 189 |
| Hall County, NE | 141 |
| Buffalo County, NE | 129 |
| Johnson County, KS (Overland Park) | 97 |
Most moves are short hops within the same metro area. 5,166 of the newcomers came from elsewhere in Nebraska and 5,493 from other states. Here are the long-distance moves only, more than 100 miles:
Long-distance newcomers come from
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Buffalo County, NE | 214 |
| Maricopa County, AZ (Phoenix) | 170 |
| Lincoln County, NE | 121 |
| Los Angeles County, CA (Los Angeles) | 97 |
| Scotts Bluff County, NE | 88 |
| San Diego County, CA (San Diego) | 82 |
| Harris County, TX (Houston) | 76 |
| Dawson County, NE | 76 |
Long-distance movers go to
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Maricopa County, AZ (Phoenix) | 224 |
| Buffalo County, NE | 129 |
| Johnson County, KS (Overland Park) | 97 |
| Cook County, IL (Chicago) | 96 |
| Harris County, TX (Houston) | 85 |
| San Diego County, CA (San Diego) | 80 |
| Larimer County, CO (Fort Collins) | 77 |
| Jackson County, MO (Kansas City) | 68 |
Frequently asked questions
Where do people moving to Lincoln come from?
Most people moving into Lancaster County, NE come from nearby counties, led by Douglas County, NE (981 people). The biggest source more than 100 miles away is Buffalo County, NE.
Where do people leaving Lincoln move to?
The top destination is Douglas County, NE (1,401 people). Farther away, the most popular is Maricopa County, AZ.
Are more people moving to Lincoln or leaving?
Between the 2022 and 2023 tax years, 10,659 people moved into Lancaster County, NE from elsewhere in the US and 10,961 moved out, a net loss of 302 (IRS data, not counting moves from abroad).
Thinking about the move yourself? Compare Lincoln with any city it trades people with, like Lincoln vs Phoenix, Lincoln vs Los Angeles, Lincoln vs San Diego, Lincoln vs Houston.
Source: IRS Statistics of Income, county-to-county migration data for filing years 2022 to 2023, the latest available. Counts are people (the number of personal exemptions, which the IRS uses to approximate individuals): tax filers plus dependents whose address moved to a different county between the two filing years. People who do not file returns are not counted, and the IRS hides very small flows to protect privacy. Figures are for the whole county, not just the city of Lincoln.