Updated on: October 27, 2026
Lincoln is a city in Placer County, California, on Highway 65 just north of Roseville in the Sacramento region. It mixes newer neighborhoods with a small, walkable downtown. If you are moving from the Bay Area or another big metro and want more space without losing city conveniences, start your search with homes for sale in Lincoln.
Key takeaway
Lincoln is a city in Placer County, California (the state has no Lincoln County), on Highway 65 just north of Roseville in the Sacramento region. For a mover, the main trade-offs are:
- a Highway 65 commute that slows at rush hour,
- higher summer electricity bills,
- Mello-Roos special taxes in many newer neighborhoods.
In return, you get newer master-planned homes and room to spread out.
Who this guide is for
This guide is for people relocating to Lincoln from another city or state who are weighing its location, commute and monthly costs before they buy or rent.
Related comparisons: Lincoln vs Folsom, Lincoln vs Rocklin.
Lincoln, CA at a glance
- Lincoln is in Placer County. California has no Lincoln County.
- Downtown Sacramento: about 35 minutes off-peak, 50 to 65 at rush hour.
- PG&E supplies power and gas. The city bills water, sewer and garbage.
- Many newer neighborhoods carry Mello-Roos, so check the tax bill first.
- Summer highs reach the mid-90s, with triple-digit heat waves.
Where is Lincoln, CA, and what county is it in?
Lincoln is an incorporated city built around a historic downtown near Beermann Plaza, with Highway 65 running through town.
Neighboring cities, by direction from Lincoln:
- Roseville: south
- Rocklin: south-southeast
- Loomis: southeast
- Auburn: east-northeast
- Sheridan and Wheatland: north-northwest
How far is Lincoln, CA from nearby cities?
Google Maps gives these approximate off-peak driving distances and times from downtown Lincoln:
- Roseville: about 10 miles, 15 to 20 minutes
- Rocklin: about 7 miles, 15 minutes
- Folsom: about 20 miles, 30 to 35 minutes
- Auburn: about 15 miles, 25 minutes
- Downtown Sacramento: about 29 miles, 35 minutes
- Sacramento International Airport: about 28 miles, 35 minutes
- South Lake Tahoe: about 100 miles, 2 hours
- San Francisco: about 116 miles, 2 hours
What kinds of homes can you buy in Lincoln?
Lincoln's housing falls into a few groups:
- Older homes near downtown, with a wider variety of lot sizes and styles.
- Master-planned neighborhoods such as Lincoln Crossing and Twelve Bridges, where builders are still active.
- Sun City Lincoln Hills, an age-restricted 55+ active-adult community that sits entirely within city limits.
- Larger rural and acreage parcels on the outskirts. If land is your priority, focus your search there rather than in the master-planned neighborhoods.
Lincoln homes cost slightly less than Roseville's: Redfin data for August 2026 puts the median sale price at $632,000 in Lincoln and $640,000 in Roseville.
Many newer master-planned neighborhoods carry Mello-Roos (Community Facilities District) special taxes. These appear on the property tax bill on top of regular property tax and can raise the monthly cost of a home noticeably. Before you make an offer on any home, ask for its actual tax bill or the special-tax disclosure.
Is it expensive to live in Lincoln, CA?
Overall living expenses in Lincoln run above the national average, and housing drives most of the difference. BestPlaces (2026) gives Lincoln a cost-of-living index of 153, which is 53% above the U.S. average of 100 and also higher than the California average.
Electricity is the other cost movers notice:
- PG&E (Lincoln): around $0.39 per kWh average residential rate in 2026.
- Roseville Electric (next door): $0.1469 per kWh for the first 500 kWh and $0.1912 per kWh above that, under rates effective July 1, 2026.
Summer air-conditioning makes that gap show up on monthly bills. Over a year, it can offset much of the small savings on a Lincoln home compared with Roseville.
Regular property tax on Lincoln homes runs about 1.04% of assessed value (the 1% base levy plus voter-approved debt), according to the Placer County Auditor-Controller, before any special taxes.
If you rent first, Zillow put average asking rent in late 2026 at about $2,403 a month in Lincoln, compared with about $2,650 in Roseville and $2,700 in Rocklin.
Compared with Bay Area suburbs, Lincoln usually offers more space for the money.
What are the utilities in Lincoln, CA?
Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) provides both electricity and natural gas to homes inside Lincoln city limits. The City of Lincoln provides water, sewer and garbage services for those homes and bills them monthly.
For new construction, the builder usually coordinates the first hookups. For a resale home or a rental, set up both accounts before move-in day.
What is the weather like in Lincoln, CA?
Lincoln has hot, dry summers and cool, wetter winters. July daytime highs commonly sit in the mid-90s, and January nights often drop into the upper 30s. Most rain falls between November and March, while summer heat waves can push temperatures into the triple digits.
Snow in town is rare, but the Sierra and Lake Tahoe are within driving distance for winter recreation.
How do you get around and commute from Lincoln?
Highway 65 is the main route out of town. It runs south through Roseville to I-80, which continues to Sacramento. Rush-hour backups where Highway 65 meets I-80 near Roseville are the main commute delay. Google Maps puts a typical weekday peak-hour drive to downtown Sacramento at 50 to 65 minutes.
Residents commute to jobs in Roseville, Rocklin and Sacramento, and some work hybrid or remote schedules while living in Lincoln. If you work from home or within Placer County, the Highway 65 rush-hour delay matters much less.
Placer County Transit serves Lincoln with the Lincoln Circulator, Route 20 to Sierra College and Roseville, and the Placer Commuter Express to downtown Sacramento. The nearest Capitol Corridor train stations are in Rocklin and Roseville, and the nearest Sacramento RT light rail station is Watt/I-80. These options suit planned trips and weekday commutes, but most errands are easiest by car.
Newer neighborhoods have multi-use paths and bike lanes for shorter trips without a car. The city also has a designated route network for neighborhood electric vehicles and golf carts. It links Sun City Lincoln Hills, Twelve Bridges, downtown, parks, shopping centers and medical facilities.
What is the lifestyle like in Lincoln, CA?
Community events at the plaza and seasonal concerts offer local gatherings without big-city scale. Regional parks and golf courses such as Turkey Creek Golf Club give plenty of ways to spend time outside.
What are the shopping and dining options in Lincoln, CA?
Everyday shopping happens at Lincoln Crossing and village centers near Twelve Bridges, while downtown hosts bakeries, small shops and local cafés. Dining is modest but growing, with breakfast places, bistros and a few breweries that host music and community nights. Farmers' markets bring seasonal produce into town on a regular basis. For larger malls, big-box retailers and a wider choice of entertainment, residents typically drive to Roseville or Rocklin.
Tips for your move to Lincoln
- Test the commute: tour neighborhoods and drive your route at the hour you would make it.
- Look up fire hazard zones: parts of Lincoln fall within a Fire Hazard Severity Zone, which can affect insurance cost and availability.
- Check an address on the 2025 CAL FIRE map or the City of Lincoln's interactive map tool.
- Get a homeowners insurance quote for that address before you commit.
- Confirm schools: Western Placer Unified School District serves Lincoln, so confirm the attendance boundary for the exact address with the district.
- Review crime data: Lincoln police publish crime summaries and mapping tools you can use to check crime rates for the areas you tour.
- Plan around the heat: avoid peak summer heat on moving day if you can.
- Budget for move-in costs: beyond the movers, plan for:
- utility start-ups with PG&E and the city,
- California vehicle registration,
- deposits, if you rent first.
- Meet DMV deadlines: new California residents must register an out-of-state vehicle within 20 days of establishing residency. They must apply for a California driver's license within 10 days.
If you would like to tour Lincoln neighborhoods, a Made 4 More Realty agent can help you plan the visit.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lincoln, CA a good place to live?
Lincoln suits movers who want a newer master-planned home, a 55+ community or acreage and who can accept the commute, electricity and Mello-Roos trade-offs above.
Is Lincoln, CA part of the Sacramento metro area?
Yes. Lincoln is part of the federally defined Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area.
What is the population of Lincoln, CA?
The California Department of Finance estimated Lincoln's population at 56,494 as of January 1, 2026.
Sources
- Sun City Lincoln Hills Community Association
- Zillow Rental Manager, Lincoln, CA market trends, late 2026
- California DMV, New to California
- OMB Bulletin 23-01, metropolitan statistical area delineations
- California Department of Finance, population estimates, January 1, 2026
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