What is the cost of living in Lincolnton, NC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Lincolnton has an overall cost of living index of 96, which is 1.0x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to North Carolina, Lincolnton has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than North Carolina's index of 95.
The standard of living in Lincolnton ranks as #63 most affordable out of the 159 places we measured in North Carolina. By definition, that implies Lincolnton ranks as the #96 most expensive place in the Tar Heel State.
For more reading on life in Lincolnton, check out:
Lincolnton Cost Of Living Vs. North Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Lincolnton. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Lincolnton is 100.
The Groceries index in Lincolnton is 101.
The Health index in Lincolnton is 84.
The Housing index in Lincolnton is 100.
The Transportation index in Lincolnton is 101.
The Utilities index in Lincolnton is 99.
| Living Expense | Lincolnton | North Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 96 | 95 | 100 |
| Services | 100 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 101 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 84 | 89 | 100 |
| Housing | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Transportation | 101 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 99 | 101 | 100 |
Lincolnton Cost Of Living Compared To North Carolina Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around North Carolina, check out:
- Most Expensive Cities In North Carolina
- Most Affordable Cities In North Carolina
- Average Rent In North Carolina
Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Lincolnton, NC Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in North Carolina, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Lincolnton is $296,022.
The Median Rent in Lincolnton is $965.
The Median Income in Lincolnton is $46,320.
The Home Value To Income in Lincolnton is 6.4x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Lincolnton is 0.25x.
| Statistic | Lincolnton | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $296,022 | $336,407 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $965 | $1,228 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $46,320 | $72,388 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 6.4x | 4.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.25x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Lincolnton, NC Costs By Category
Detailed Lincolnton Services costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Lincolnton | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.27 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.55 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $21.67 | $18 |
| Haircut | $18.25 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $59.75 | $45.56 |
Detailed Lincolnton Groceries costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Lincolnton | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.27 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.39 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.61 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.98 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.96 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.47 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.81 | $3.7 |
Detailed Lincolnton Health costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Lincolnton | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $143.74 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $148.29 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $115.52 | $113.29 |
Detailed Lincolnton Transportation costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Lincolnton | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.29 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $53.32 | $59.92 |
Detailed Lincolnton Utilities costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Lincolnton | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $167.89 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $189.9 | $192.25 |
Lincolnton SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Lincolnton
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Lincolnton. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Gastonia, NC has a cost of living index of 98, 1.0x Lincolnton.
Hickory, NC has a cost of living index of 100, 1.0x Lincolnton.
Cornelius, NC has a cost of living index of 124, 1.3x Lincolnton.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Lincolnton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gastonia, NC | 82,884 | 98 | 1.0x |
| Hickory, NC | 44,258 | 100 | 1.0x |
| Cornelius, NC | 32,783 | 124 | 1.3x |
| Mount Holly, NC | 18,208 | 97 | 1.0x |
| Newton, NC | 13,333 | 91 | 0.9x |
| Kings Mountain, NC | 12,039 | 93 | 1.0x |
| Lake Norman of Catawba, NC | 9,906 | 130 | 1.4x |
| Conover, NC | 8,580 | 95 | 1.0x |
| Cherryville, NC | 6,226 | 93 | 1.0x |
| Dallas, NC | 6,104 | 92 | 1.0x |
