Best Places to Live in Nebraska

When people think of Nebraska, they may imagine those “amber waves of grain” from the song “America the Beautiful.” And they’d be right! As part of the great American prairie, Nebraska has its share of endless farming fields (it’s called the Cornhusker State, after all). But there’s more to Nebraska than cows and corn (though Nebraska is the largest producer of popcorn in the country.¹ From tech to banking, Nebraska has a lot going for it, as well as for the folks who live there.

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If you’re checking out this article, chances are you’re thinking about putting down roots in Nebraska. Whether you’re a retiree looking for a quiet place out west or a young professional scoping out a place to work remotely, we’ll help you narrow down the best places to live in Nebraska.

About the Cornhusker State

There’s a reason agriculture is Nebraska’s top industry: The land is pretty flat, with rich, fertile soil. That makes it ideal for crop production and processing, as well as meat production (Nebraska is also known as the Beef State). With so much open land, much of the state is sparsely populated. Most of the state’s 2 million residents live in the eastern region along the Interstate 80 corridor. Outside of Omaha and Lincoln, most towns are in the 1,000–20,000 population range.²

But those who do call Nebraska home come from genuine frontier stock—hardworking, neighborly Midwesterners who help each other and their community. They also love their college football and have an interesting sense of humor, with many local businesses calling themselves Aksarben, like Aksarben Cleaners, Aksarben Eye Care, etc. While this might sound like something out of Harry Potter, it’s actually Nebraska spelled backward.

You do have to be pretty hardy and full of good humor to live in Nebraska. The Cornhusker State has four distinct seasons—with humid summers and long, cold winters. And tornadoes are common in the springtime and early summer.

Nebraska’s low population—and therefore smaller tax base—contributes to its high property taxes (the fourth-highest in the U.S.).³ But its state income tax is closer to the middle compared to other states.⁴ The good news is that the state is taking steps to reduce the tax burden for both individuals and businesses—always a plus!⁵

The Best Places to Live in Nebraska

Before we go through this list, let’s get one thing straight: All “best places” lists are subjective, including this one. While we did use some data (population, home and rent prices, etc.), a “best place to live” will ultimately depend on your personal preferences and needs. But to add credibility to our list, we got the inside scoop from some former and current Nebraskans, including a few RamseyTrusted^® real estate pros in the state.

Omaha

The sign welcoming you to Omaha off I-80 has two full-size locomotives on top of it—a fitting symbol of the city’s personality and history. Founded by frontier settlers in 1854 at the meeting place of the Platte and Missouri rivers, Omaha was made by the railroad. In 1869, Council Bluffs, Iowa (Omaha’s cross-border sister city) became the starting point for America’s first transcontinental railroad, which brought new residents and modern industries like meat packing to Omaha.

And that pioneering spirit still exists today—in more ways than one.

“Omaha is a phenomenal city,” said Benjamin Smail, an Omaha-based RamseyTrusted real estate agent. “The Omaha motto is ‘We Don’t Coast,’ which has two meanings: We don’t have coasts. But also, we don’t coast at what we do. We excel.”

Now Nebraska’s largest city, Omaha is a commercial hub and home to many well-known companies, like Union Pacific Railroad, Mutual of Omaha insurance company, and investor Warren Buffett’s Berkshire-Hathaway (Buffett lives in Omaha).The area’s largest employer is the nearby Offutt Air Force Base.⁶

Of course, Omahans also play as hard as they work. The Old Market entertainment district is an outdoor gathering place in a historic part of the city. It’s full of trendy shops, restaurants, bars and galleries—and it hosts festivals and other special events throughout the year. The College World Series is held in Omaha every year at Charles Schwab Field. Vala’s Pumpkin Patch & Apple Orchard is a favorite family fun spot in the fall. The Joslyn Art Museum offers free admission all year long (and we like free!). And Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium is consistently rated among the best zoos in the country.

“And all of that comes with a reasonable cost of living, kind people, quality schools and a great food scene,” Benjamin added.

Metro Area Population*	984,5487
Median Household Income	$73,2018
Median Home Price	$384,9319
Median Monthly Rent**	$1,31310
Average Annual Rainfall	37"11
Unemployment Rate	3.112

^{*Metro area population includes the city and surrounding urban and suburban areas.
**Median monthly rent is based on a two-bedroom apartment.}

Great Omaha Suburbs

Want all the benefits of Omaha with a little more elbow room? Check out these nearby suburbs:

Gretna
Bennington
Blair

Lincoln

Omaha may be the biggest city in Nebraska, but Lincoln is the center of state government. Originally known as Lancaster, Lincoln got a new name (in honor of Honest Abe) when it became the state capital in 1867. The city’s skyline is now dominated by the impressive 400-foot-tall Capitol building (the second-tallest in the country).

Lincoln is a college town—home to the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers. It’s said that when fans pack Memorial Stadium for football games, it becomes the third-largest city in Nebraska.

The university itself is the third-largest employer in the city, behind the State of Nebraska and Lincoln Public Schools.¹³ But Lincoln's job market isn't limited to government and education. Health care is the city’s top private industry, followed by manufacturing (including the main plant for Kawasaki Motors’ North American operations).¹⁴ Lincoln also has an emerging tech sector and, together with Omaha, is one of the centers of what’s called the Silicon Prairie, with many small tech start-ups coming to the state.

Lincoln prides itself on being a safe, green city focused on community. Over 98% of homes are within a mile of one of the city’s walking trails, and 80% are within a half mile of at least one park.¹⁵ The Haymarket District in downtown Lincoln is home to over 200 businesses, shops and restaurants—and it serves as a social hub with events like the annual Chocolate Lover’s Fantasy.

Even with its college-town vibes and big-city amenities, Lincoln still offers a relaxed pace of life. “I’ve spent my life here, and at each turn there’s a good opportunity to get involved in something you enjoy,” said Taylor Wyatt, a Lincoln-based RamseyTrusted real estate pro, who works alongside his wife, Brooke.“ At the same time, it’s not so busy that you can’t enjoy what it has to offer. Most people outside of Lincoln don’t realize it’s beyond a normal college town. We love small-town Nebraska, which is certainly accessible for us, but Lincoln is city living!”

Metro Area Population*	343,62016
Median Household Income	$71,86717
Median Home Price	$389,00018
Median Monthly Rent**	$1,13319
Average Annual Rainfall	33"20
Unemployment Rate	2.9%21

^{*Metro area population includes the city and surrounding urban and suburban areas.
**Median monthly rent is based on a two-bedroom apartment.}

Kearney

About two hours west of Lincoln, along I-80, you’ll go under a massive archway straddling the highway, marking the city of Kearney (pronounced kar-nee). The Great Platte River Road Archway Monument was created as a tribute to the town’s history. Kearney was founded in 1848 as a frontier outpost (the town was named after a famous Army general). It evolved into a stopover for the transcontinental railroad—and then a crossroads along the famous Lincoln Highway.

Today, Kearney is a city with one foot in the past and the other in the here and now. The city’s downtown—known as The Bricks because of its brick-paved streets—is a historic district offering unique restaurants and shops, a theater, and more. The area was developed to appeal to the students from the University of Nebraska at Kearney (go Lopers!), who keep the youthful vibe going. And while the university is one of Kearney’s top employers, industries like agriculture, health care and tourism are also a big part of the local economy.²²

By the way, that Great Platte River Road Archway we mentioned earlier is more than just a monument. There’s an entire interactive museum complex inside the archway telling the story of the pioneers who blazed the path across the untamed Nebraska wilderness.

Micro Area Population*	57,29223
Median Household Income	$69,72424
Median Home Price	$360,00025
Median Monthly Rent**	$1,50026
Average Annual Rainfall	29"27
Unemployment Rate	2.4%28

^{*Micro area population includes the city and surrounding urban and suburban areas.
**Median monthly rent is based on all apartment types.}

Grand Island

You wouldn’t expect to find an island in the middle of the Nebraska prairie, but that’s just what Grand Island is . . . or was. See, there actually was a 50-mile-long island in the Platte River, which French fur traders named La Grande Isle in the 1820s. Settlers first came to live on the island in 1857, but by the late 1860s, people began moving off the island to a new town to the north built by Union Pacific. And that town became Grand Island.

The island itself no longer exists (thanks to natural and man-made changes to the waterway), but the city of Grand Island is still a community full of energy and innovation, while retaining its rural, small-town feel. Grand Island has been through many changes and challenges, including a mega storm that unleashed seven (yes, seven!) tornadoes on a single day in 1980. Today, the city continues to grow, adding industries like manufacturing, distribution and logistics, and data to its traditional agricultural sectors.²⁹ Chief Industries, a global manufacturing company, is one of the area’s largest employers.

The Nebraska State Fair is held every year in Grand Island. And shoppers and diners can find one-of-a-kind treasures and tasty treats in the Railside District and along Merchandise Mile. The 200-acre Stuhr Museum and the 25,000-square-foot Raising Nebraska educational center can teach you about the past, present and future of your new hometown (and beyond). City parks, hiking trails and the Island Oasis water park keep everyone busy and active.

Metro Area Population*	76,47930
Median Household Income	$63,79531
Median Home Price	$303,00032
Median Monthly Rent**	$1,31533
Average Annual Rainfall	31"34
Unemployment Rate	3%35

^{*Metro area population includes the city and surrounding urban and suburban areas.
**Median monthly rent is based on all apartment types.}

Hastings

It may look like another small town in Nebraska, but Hastings has a one-of-a-kind identity that’ll make you go, “Oh yeah!”—Kool-Aid Man-style. That’s because Kool-Aid was invented here in 1927. That “Kool” legacy lives on at the annual Kool-Aid Days festival and in the interactive Kool-Aid exhibit at the Hastings Museum.

Hastings is also home to the Nebraska Bigfoot Museum and the Nebraska Bigfoot Festival—there have been several Bigfoot “sightings” over the years. And events like the Flatwater Music Festival and the PRCA Oregon Trail Rodeo connect this community to its pioneer roots.

Hastings has been an agricultural center for generations. But its economy also includes manufacturing, food processing and health care.³⁶ And the city has become a magnet for small businesses and entrepreneurs. Downtown Hastings is undergoing a massive redevelopment, with upper-level residential spaces and lots of locally owned shops and eateries.

According to Hastings-based RamseyTrusted real estate pro Susan Spady, Hastings is a community with a lot going for it. “I can't express how much I enjoy serving this great area,” Susan said. “We have been blessed with excellent schools, prospering neighborhoods and plenty of kindness to go around.”

Micro Area Population*	40,50337
Median Household Income	$64,04838
Median Home Price	$245,00039
Median Monthly Rent**	$1,42540
Average Annual Rainfall	30"41
Unemployment Rate	2.8%42

^{*Micro area population includes the city and surrounding urban and suburban areas.
**Median monthly rent is based on all apartment types near Hastings College, which is in Hastings.}

Best Places to Live in Nebraska for Families

Nebraska’s friendly people and tight-knit communities make the state a great place to raise a family. Here are a few cities we’ve found that stand out above the rest:

Bennington
Grand Island
Gretna
Kearney
Omaha

Best Places to Live in Nebraska for Young Adults

If you’re young, single, and moving to the Cornhusker State for one of those new tech jobs—or any other job—check out these cities with activities and nightlife geared toward young professionals:

Kearney
Lincoln
Omaha       

Ready to Move to Nebraska?

The Cornhusker State has a lot to offer anyone and everyone. And if you’re really thinking about moving to Nebraska, you’re going to need someone who knows the area like the back of their hand.

A RamseyTrusted real estate pro, like the ones featured in this article, will help you find the right home that won’t break your budget. They’re focused on what’s best for you—that’s what being RamseyTrusted means.