How much are property taxes on a house in Lincoln?
Property taxes in Lancaster County averaged 1.5955% of assessed value in 2025, according to the Nebraska Department of Revenue. On a $250,000 home, that’s about $3,990 a year, or roughly $330 a month. Your actual bill depends on the city and school district the home sits in, so look up the home’s last tax bill before you make an offer.
Use the county average to plan. Use the home’s actual tax bill to decide.
By Jorin Masley | November 7, 2026
Property taxes are the part of the payment first-time buyers underestimate most. The loan payment is easy to find. The tax bill is buried on a county website, and it can add hundreds of dollars a month.
Here’s what the numbers look like right now, what they don’t tell you and how to get the real figure for any house you’re considering.
The 2025 numbers
The Nebraska Department of Revenue’s 2025 annual report lists the average tax rate for every county. For the counties we work in most:
- Lancaster County (Lincoln, Hickman, Firth, Malcolm): 1.5955%
- Saline County (Crete, Wilber): 1.3089%
- Seward County (Seward, Milford): 1.1232%
- Nebraska statewide average: 1.4738%
Lancaster County’s average rate dropped from 1.7012% the year before. That sounds like good news, but total assessed values rose 9.84% and total taxes levied still rose 3.02%. A lower rate on a higher value can still mean a bigger bill.
Why the county average isn’t your number
These averages cover every kind of property in the county, including farmland. A house inside a town pays its own mix of city, school district and other levies, so the rate on a specific home can be higher or lower than the county average.
Use the average to sketch a budget. Use the actual bill to make a decision.
How to find a home’s real tax bill
- Find the parcel on the Lancaster County Assessor or Treasurer website. Search by address.
- Look at the most recent full-year tax bill, not a seller’s estimate.
- Divide it by 12 and add it to the loan payment, insurance and any mortgage insurance. That’s your real monthly payment.
- For new construction, ask what the finished home will be assessed at. The current bill may only reflect the land, and the first full bill can be a surprise.
It takes about two minutes, and it’s the single best way to avoid feeling house poor six months after closing.
Two Nebraska details buyers rarely hear about
Taxes are paid in arrears. In most of the counties we work in, you’ll get a credit at closing for the seller’s share of taxes that haven’t been paid yet. It helps your cash at closing, but those bills still come due later. Your lender’s escrow account is set up to cover them.
Your bill can change every year. The county reviews values each year. If your home’s value goes up, your bill can go up even when the rate goes down, and your escrow payment adjusts with it.
One more: Nebraska’s homestead exemption is limited to owners 65 and older, qualified disabled owners and qualified disabled veterans and their surviving spouses, with income limits. Most first-time buyers won’t qualify, so don’t count on it in your budget.
Frequently asked questions
What is the property tax rate in Lincoln, Nebraska?
Lancaster County’s average property tax rate was 1.5955% of assessed value in 2025, per the Nebraska Department of Revenue. The rate on a specific Lincoln home depends on its city and school district levies, so check the home’s actual tax bill.
How much are property taxes on a $250,000 house in Lancaster County?
At the 2025 county average of 1.5955%, about $3,990 a year, or roughly $330 a month. The real number depends on the home’s location and assessed value.
Are property taxes lower outside Lincoln?
County averages were lower in 2025: 1.3089% in Saline County and 1.1232% in Seward County. Those averages include farmland, so compare the actual tax bills on the homes you’re considering.
Do I get a property tax credit at closing in Nebraska?
Usually, yes. Because most counties we work in collect taxes in arrears, buyers typically receive a credit at closing for the seller’s unpaid share. The bill still comes due later, through your escrow account.
Know the number before you fall for the house
Taxes are a fixed part of owning a home in Nebraska, and they’re easy to check once you know where to look. If you want help pulling the real tax bill on a home you’re watching, send me the address. Reach out anytime at 402-728-8750 or [email protected].
About Jorin Masley
REALTOR® and Team Lead at Elevate Realty Group, brokered by Nebraska Realty. Leads with clarity: makes the complicated plain and shows you the real numbers early. Serves Lincoln and the surrounding communities of Milford, Seward, Beatrice, Crete, Waverly, Hickman and Roca.
Source: Nebraska Department of Revenue, 2025 Annual Report, Table 8.