2026 editionMidwestPop. 2,018,006Capital Lincoln37th state, admitted 1867Cook PVI R+15
Is Nebraska a Good Place to Live? Nebraska Rankings, Cost of Living, Crime & Taxes
Nebraska ranks #10 of 50 with a composite score of 71.1 and an A grade, strongest in fiscal health (#8) and weakest in outdoor access (#29). The median household earns $76,376 (6% below the national median), homes typically cost $280,673 (24% below the national average), and violent crime is 218 per 100,000 (33% below the national average).
$1,280 of state debt per resident, lowest in the country, tells you how Nebraska is run: it pays cash, funds pensions at 87% and lands in the top ten for retirees. The price is property tax at 1.54%, #42 of 50, because schools and counties raise their money at home.
Nebraska by the numbers
Six measures every state is judged on, each with Nebraska's rank of 50 and the national figure beside it.
Sources, latest releases: Census Bureau ACS (income), Zillow Research (home value), BEA Regional Price Parities (cost index), FBI state crime estimates (crime), BLS LAUS (unemployment), WalletHub tax burden study (taxes). Rank 1 is the best value in each measure: highest income, lowest cost, lowest crime.
Read the Nebraska overview
Nebraska scores above the national average in 9 of 11 categories and ranks #3 of 12 states in the Midwest, behind 2 regional neighbors. Its biggest edge over the country is violent crime rate (218, 33% below the national average); its biggest shortfall is median household income ($76,376, 6% below the national median). With 1 top-10 finish and no bottom-10 category, its weaknesses are relative, not absolute.
Where does Nebraska rank in each category?
All 11 categories that make up the composite, heaviest weight first. Nebraska is top 10 in 1 and bottom 10 in 0.
| Category | Score | Rank | Grade | Weight | US avg | The numbers behind it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | 56.7 | #12 of 50 | B+ | 15% | 47.1 | Its unemployment rate is 3% and median household income is $76,376. |
| Safety | 78.0 | #16 of 50 | B+ | 12% | 68.9 | The FBI estimates 218.4 violent crimes and 1,378.6 property crimes per 100,000 residents. |
| Health | 58.2 | #25 of 50 | B | 12% | 54.4 | Life expectancy is 78.3 years, 37.6% of adults have obesity, and 7.1% of residents are uninsured. |
| Education | 63.8 | #20 of 50 | B | 12% | 57.5 | Eighth graders average 280 in NAEP math and 256 in reading, and the high school graduation rate is 87.1%. |
| Affordability | 81.6 | #12 of 50 | B+ | 10% | 65.2 | Typical home value $280,673 (3.7x median income); cost of living index 90.1 (100 = US); center-based infant care $15,080 a year. |
| Fiscal Health | 71.4 | #8 of 50 | A | 8% | 58.1 | It carries $1,280 of debt per resident, has 87% of pensions funded, and holds a AAA credit rating. |
| Growth | 45.2 | #18 of 50 | B+ | 7% | 38.8 | Population grew 0.62% last year; Census net domestic migration is -0.2 per 1,000 residents (the Moving section below uses IRS household counts, a different series). |
| Transportation | 55.6 | #12 of 50 | B+ | 7% | 49.8 | The average commute is 19.9 minutes, 0.5% of workers use public transit, and 9.7% work from home. |
| Livability | 32.4 | #26 of 50 | B | 7% | 34.3 | It has 1.728 restaurants and 0.019 arts venues per 1,000 residents, plus 0.261 bars and 0.123 social associations per 1,000. |
| Outdoor Access | 22.0 | #29 of 50 | C+ | 6% | 29.4 | 1.4% of its land is public, with 3.79 recreation facilities per 10,000 residents. |
| Environment | 44.1 | #22 of 50 | B | 4% | 42.5 | Its median air quality index is 34, 34% of its electricity is renewable, and its FEMA disaster risk score is 48.5. |
Weight, US average and the evidence sentence for each category are shown on wider screens.
Grades follow rank, not score: A+ for ranks 1–5, A for 6–10, B+ for 11–18, B for 19–26, C+ for 27–34, C for 35–42, D for 43–48, F for 49–50. US avg is the mean score of the 50 states. Click a category for its 50-state ranking.
Category shape
Nebraska's 11 category scores. A balanced state fills the wheel evenly; Nebraska bulges toward fiscal health and dips at outdoor access.
How expensive is Nebraska?
Nebraska's cost of living index is 90.1 against a national baseline of 100, 10% below the national average and #10 of 50 (1 = cheapest). The typical home is worth $280,673 (24% below the national average); buying it takes an income of about $83,194, $6,818 more than the median household earns. Inside the state the spread is wide: among tracked cities, Kearney is cheapest (index 86.3) and Gretna priciest (91.9).
Housing market snapshot · August
Cool marketRanked #37 of 50 most expensive by typical value and #16 on price relative to income (1 = most affordable). The median household is $6,818 short of the income needed to buy the typical home.
Full Nebraska housing market: 26-year chart, rent vs. buy, cities →What a household keeps at $75,000
| Household | Nebraska | Median state | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Family of fourTwo adults, two kids, one in daycare | −$8,385 | −$11,758 | #21 of 50 |
| Single adultOne-bedroom rent, no childcare | +$33,659 | +$31,418 | #21 of 50 |
| Retiree coupleOwn the home, no payroll tax | +$38,932 | +$35,970 | #20 of 50 |
Take-home pay minus housing, childcare, utilities, groceries and transport for a $75,000 household, from the affordability engine. Positive = money left over; negative = costs exceed take-home. Rank 1 = most left over.
What are taxes like in Nebraska?
Nebraska's tax mix is high property tax, with income and sales taxes in the middle of the pack. The total state and local tax burden comes to 8.78% of income, in line with the national average (#26 of 50, 1 = lightest). Property tax is 1.54% of home value (#42), and combined sales tax averages 6.98% (#23).
Tax Foundation (rates) and WalletHub tax burden study (burden as a share of income), latest releases. Rank 1 = lowest. Income tax is the top marginal rate including typical local taxes where they apply.
Can the state pay its bills?
Fiscal health scores 71.4 out of 100, #8 of 50. Pew Fiscal 50, Census state finances and the rating agencies, latest releases.
Is Nebraska safe?
Nebraska reports 218 violent crimes per 100,000 residents, 33% below the national average and #12 of 50 (1 = safest). Property crime runs 1,379 per 100,000, 10% below the national average (#19 of 50). The safety score is 78 out of 100, #16 of 50; among tracked cities, Papillion has the lowest violent crime rate.
Nebraska vs. the United States, per 100,000 residents
FBI state crime estimates, latest release. US is the mean of the 50 states; blue = below it, terracotta = above it. Florida and North Dakota use the FBI's prior-year estimate because their latest year is based on limited data.
Safest tracked cities in Nebraska
| City | Population | Violent / 100K | Property / 100K |
|---|---|---|---|
| Papillion | 25,244 | 48 | 663 |
| La Vista | 16,563 | 67 | 1,140 |
| Beatrice | 12,225 | 73 | 626 |
| Lexington | 10,862 | 79 | 1,084 |
| Columbus | 24,488 | 87 | 772 |
Lowest violent crime among the 20 Nebraska cities we track. City rates come from each city's police agency and are not strictly comparable across agencies.
What is the job market like in Nebraska?
Nebraska's unemployment rate is 3%, 1.0 points below the national average and #6 of 50 (1 = lowest), and the median household earns $76,376, 6% below the national median. Real GDP grew +1.8% in the latest year (#28 of 50) and GDP per capita is $67,337, 5% above the national average. The population is growing 0.62% a year, 0.1 points above the national average. The economy score is 56.7 out of 100, #12 of 50.
Census Bureau ACS (income), BLS LAUS (unemployment), BEA (GDP), Census population estimates (growth), latest releases.
Highest-paying tracked occupations in Nebraska, adjusted for cost of living
| Occupation | Cost-adjusted | Median wage | Metro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Family Medicine Physicians | $223,267 | $200,940 | Omaha-Council Bluffs |
| Lawyers | $142,516 | $128,264 | Omaha-Council Bluffs |
| Software Developers | $141,411 | $127,270 | Omaha-Council Bluffs |
| General & Operations Managers | $104,988 | $94,489 | Omaha-Council Bluffs |
| Civil Engineers | $102,437 | $92,193 | Omaha-Council Bluffs |
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, latest release, for the 20 occupations we track. Cost-adjusted wage divides the metro median by its cost of living index.
How are Nebraska's schools and healthcare?
Nebraska's education score is 63.8 out of 100, #20 of 50. Eighth graders average 280 in NAEP math (#7 of 50) and 256 in reading (#30 of 50), and the high school graduation rate is 87.1%, 1.5 points above the national average (#21 of 50).
Nebraska is #25 of 50 for health, with a life expectancy of 78.3 years, 1.4 years above the national average. 37.6% of adults have obesity (#42 of 50) and 7.1% of residents have no health insurance (#25 of 50). The health score is 58.2 out of 100, weighted 12% of the composite.
CDC National Center for Health Statistics (state life tables), CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (obesity), and Census Bureau American Community Survey (health insurance), latest releases.
Who is moving to Nebraska, and who is leaving?
Nebraska lost a net 1,484 households to other states in the latest IRS release: 21,989 moved in and 23,473 moved out, -0.7 per 1,000 residents (#33 of 50). Arriving households report an average income of $59,868 against $66,473 for those leaving. The Census Bureau's American Community Survey, which counts people rather than households, shows a net +1.4K people (49.4K in, 48.1K out, ±8.4K), pointing the other way, so treat the direction as uncertain.
Where they come from
- 1Iowa3,156 · $52,747
- 2Texas1,860 · $60,565
- 3Colorado1,822 · $65,980
- 4California1,398 · $61,088
- 5Florida1,211 · $59,359
Households and their average income. Click a state to compare it head to head; households arrived from these states in the latest IRS release.
Where should you live in Nebraska?
By composite score, the best of the 20 Nebraska cities we track are Papillion (68.8), Gretna (65.3), and Bellevue (61.8). Kearney is the cheapest (cost index 86.3), Gretna the richest ($123,992), and Norfolk the fastest growing (+1.3% a year). City ranks are among the 20 Nebraska cities we cover, not every city in the state.
Standout cities in Nebraska
| Best for | City | Measure |
|---|---|---|
| Safest | Papillion | 48 violent crimes per 100K |
| Cheapest | Kearney | cost of living index 86.3 |
| Most walkable | South Sioux City | walkability 13.9 of 20 |
| Cleanest air | Scottsbluff | median AQI 23 (county) |
| Best schools | Gretna | 98% graduation rate |
| Richest | Gretna | $123,992 |
Among the 20 Nebraska cities we track. Safest uses a full year of FBI reports from the city's own police agency; air quality is measured by county, so cities in the same county share a reading.
Regions of Nebraska
Corporate headquarters, the Old Market, and the state's biggest paychecks and worst traffic, which still averages 19.9 minutes; Omaha proper is older and cheaper than its suburban ring.
Papillion, Gretna, La Vista, Bellevue and Chalco around Offutt Air Force Base: the highest incomes, the best graduation rates and the lowest crime in Nebraska, at the highest home prices.
The capital and the university, a college-town rhythm with state-worker steadiness; cheaper than Omaha, with the lowest tracked graduation rate in the state and a downtown that empties in summer.
Grand Island, Kearney, Hastings, Lexington and Columbus along the interstate: meatpacking, irrigation and rail, large immigrant workforces, and the cheapest tracked cost of living in the state.
Norfolk, Fremont and South Sioux City east; Scottsbluff and Gering west, closer to Cheyenne than Omaha; Beatrice on the Kansas line. Farm towns, short commutes, hard winters.
All 20 tracked cities, best to worst
| # | City | Grade | Score | Population | Income | Violent / 100K | Cost index |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Papillion | A+ | 68.8 | 25,244 | $111,679 | 48 | 91.9 |
| 2 | Gretna | A | 65.3 | 9,193 | $123,992 | — | 91.9 |
| 3 | Bellevue | B+ | 61.8 | 64,510 | $85,462 | 108 | 91.9 |
| 4 | La Vista | B+ | 60.4 | 16,563 | $81,961 | 67 | 91.9 |
| 5 | Lincoln | B+ | 60.2 | 294,856 | $71,867 | 427 | 91.6 |
| 6 | Norfolk | B | 58.4 | 26,054 | $58,884 | 221 | 86.3 |
| 7 | Kearney | B | 58.3 | 34,246 | $69,724 | 229 | 86.3 |
| 8 | Columbus | B | 58.3 | 24,488 | $64,626 | 87 | 86.3 |
| 9 | Fremont | B | 57.2 | 27,567 | $71,152 | 200 | 86.3 |
| 10 | Omaha | B | 56.8 | 488,837 | $73,201 | 350 | 91.9 |
| 11 | Hastings | B | 56.7 | 25,008 | $64,048 | 239 | 86.3 |
| 12 | Chalco | B | 56.4 | 10,595 | $85,672 | — | 91.9 |
| 13 | Gering | C+ | 55.6 | 8,550 | $75,093 | 105 | 86.3 |
| 14 | South Sioux City | C+ | 54.2 | 13,907 | $68,223 | 166 | 86.5 |
| 15 | Grand Island | C+ | 53.8 | 52,884 | $63,795 | 386 | 86.7 |
| 16 | Lexington | C+ | 53.6 | 10,862 | $67,666 | 79 | 86.3 |
| 17 | York | C+ | 53.1 | 8,141 | $63,265 | 183 | 86.3 |
| 18 | Beatrice | C | 51.5 | 12,225 | $57,264 | 73 | 86.3 |
| 19 | North Platte | C | 51.0 | 22,831 | $58,097 | 116 | 86.3 |
| 20 | Scottsbluff | D | 45.7 | 14,376 | $56,359 | 672 | 86.3 |
Swipe the table sideways for more columns. Rank is among the 20 Nebraska cities we track: every city of 50,000 or more, plus the state's other largest places. City scores use city-level Census, FBI, BLS, CDC, EPA and NCES data, and a category with no city data is left out of the score rather than filled with the state's figure.
Who is Nebraska best for?
The same 11 category scores, re-weighted for six kinds of household. Rank is among the 50 states; click through for the best Nebraska cities for each.
Weights differ by household: families lean on education, safety and housing; retirees on fiscal health, healthcare and cost. See the weights →
How does Nebraska compare with its neighbors?
Nebraska ranks #10. Among its bordering states, Wyoming ranks highest (#2) and Missouri lowest (#34). Iowa is the most similar on the composite score and Missouri the most different. Bordering states are listed best to worst; the national line is the mean of the 50 states.
| State | Overall | Score | Median income | Typical home | Cost index | Violent crime | Tax burden | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nebraska | #10 | 71.1 | $76,376 | $280,673 | 90.1 | 218 | 8.78% | |
| Wyoming | #2 | 79.9 | $75,532 | $371,854 | 92.7 | 180 | 5.79% | Compare → |
| South Dakota | #3 | 79.3 | $76,881 | $321,574 | 88.6 | 308 | 6.46% | Compare → |
| Iowa | #14 | 69.2 | $75,501 | $239,547 | 87.8 | 234 | 9.23% | Compare → |
| Colorado | #18 | 64.7 | $97,113 | $532,748 | 103.1 | 422 | 8.73% | Compare → |
| Kansas | #27 | 55.1 | $75,514 | $249,603 | 90.1 | 457 | 9.33% | Compare → |
| Missouri | #34 | 51.0 | $71,589 | $267,879 | 90.8 | 418 | 7.83% | Compare → |
| United States | — | 57.9 | $80,903 | $368,697 | 100 | 328 | 8.74% |
Overall rank, median income, cost index and tax burden columns are shown on wider screens.
How the score works
Eleven categories, each scored 0–100 and weighted into one composite. Grades follow rank.
The weights
Economy 15% · Safety 12% · Health 12% · Education 12% · Affordability 10% · Fiscal Health 8% · Growth 7% · Transportation 7% · Livability 7% · Outdoor Access 6% · Environment 4%. The composite is the weighted sum, stretched linearly so states spread across most of the 0–100 range.
From raw numbers to scores
Every raw measure is placed on a 0–100 scale between a fixed floor and ceiling, inverted where lower is better (crime, cost, taxes), then combined within its category. The same scale applies to every state.
Letter grades
Grades follow rank, not score: A+ for ranks 1–5, A for 6–10, B+ for 11–18, B for 19–26, C+ for 27–34, C for 35–42, D for 43–48, F for 49–50. A C+ state is not failing; it is in the middle third.
Cities, budgets and neighbors
The 20 Nebraska city scores, the household budgets and the neighbor table on this page are computed from the same sources as the state score. City ranks are among the cities we track, not all cities in the state.
Editor's notes
Passages marked as editor's notes are written for this state and add context the numbers cannot: regions, tradeoffs, who the state fits. Every figure inside them is pulled from the data at build time, so the words cannot drift from the numbers.
Always the latest release
Each source is the most recent release its agency has published. The page is rebuilt when a source updates, so the score can move without any change in the state itself.
What the score cannot tell you
Weather and climate, culture and pace, politics beyond the Cook index shown for context, the quality of a specific school, hospital or neighborhood, job prospects in your field, and anything without a public, comparable, 50-state source. Statewide averages also hide the metro-versus-rural split, which is why the editor's notes name places.
Category briefs
Economy: Unemployment rate and median household income. Safety: Violent and property crime rates per 100,000 residents. Health: Health outcomes, behaviors, and access to care. Education: K-12 school quality, test scores, and graduation rates. Full methodology →
Key takeaways
What the Nebraska numbers say when read together.
Fiscal Health is Nebraska's strongest suit
Nebraska is a #10 state overall but #8 of 50 for fiscal health, 2 places better than its composite rank, with a score of 71.4 against a national average of 58.1. Economy (#12) is next. Fiscal health carries 8% of the composite.
Outdoor Access is where Nebraska falls furthest behind
Nebraska ranks #29 of 50 for outdoor access, 19 places below its overall #10, with a score of 22 against a national average of 29.4. At 6% of the composite, it is the category holding the overall score down most.
Violent crime rate is 33% below the national average
Nebraska's violent crime rate is 218, 33% below the national average of 328, #12 of 50 (1 = safest). The largest gap in the other direction is median household income: $76,376, 6% below the national median. Source: FBI estimates, latest release.
More households leave than arrive
Nebraska ranks #33 of 50 on net household flow per 1,000 residents (-0.7). The households arriving report $6,605 less in average income than those leaving ($59,868 against $66,473), so the state is trading down on income even as the headcount shrinks. Iowa is both the largest source and the largest destination.
A middle income is squeezed less here than in most states
A family of four earning $75,000 ends the year at a $8,385 shortfall after housing, childcare, utilities, groceries, transport and taxes, against a $11,758 shortfall in the median state (#21 of 50). A single adult on the same income comes out at a $33,659 surplus; a retiree couple at a $38,932 surplus. Infant childcare runs $15,080 a year, 4% below the national average.
Nebraska sits 3rd among its 7-state neighborhood
2 of Nebraska's 6 bordering states rank above its #10; the closest match on the composite is Iowa. Median income among them runs from $71,589 in Missouri to $97,113 in Colorado; Nebraska is at $76,376.
Frequently asked questions about living in Nebraska
Is Nebraska a good place to live?
Nebraska ranks #10 of 50 with an A grade, #3 of 12 in the Midwest. It is top 10 in fiscal health. On the six headline measures it beats the national figure on 4 of 6 (home prices, cost of living, violent crime, and unemployment) and trails on income and tax burden. Whether that adds up to a good place to live depends on what you weigh; the household rankings below re-weight the same numbers for families, retirees and remote workers.
Where does Nebraska rank among US states?
Nebraska ranks #10 of 50 overall with a composite score of 71.1 (grade A), and #3 of 12 states in the Midwest. Its best category rank is #8 (fiscal health) and its worst #29 (outdoor access). The composite weights eleven categories, with economy, safety, health and education counting most; grades follow rank, so A means rank 6–10.
Is it expensive to live in Nebraska?
At #10 of 50 for cost of living (1 = cheapest), Nebraska is 10% below the national average: its index is 90.1 against a national baseline of 100. The typical home value is $280,673 (24% below the national average), and buying it takes an income of about $83,194 against a median household income of $76,376. At $75,000, a family of four comes out at a $8,385 shortfall after all costs, #21 of 50 (1 = most left over).
Does Nebraska have a state income tax?
Yes. Nebraska's top state income tax rate is 5.2% (#24 of 50, 1 = lowest), and the total state and local tax burden is 8.78% of income, in line with the national average. Property tax is 1.54% of home value and combined sales tax 6.98%.
What is the crime rate in Nebraska?
Nebraska reports 218 violent crimes per 100,000 residents, 33% below the national average and #12 of 50 (1 = safest), and 1,379 property crimes per 100,000, 10% below the national average (#19). Its safety score is 78 out of 100, #16 of 50. Figures are FBI estimates from the latest release.
Does Nebraska have good schools?
Nebraska is #20 of 50 for education (score 63.8 out of 100). Its public school students average 280 in eighth-grade math on NAEP (#7) and 256 in eighth-grade reading (#30), and the high school graduation rate is 87.1%, 1.5 points above the national average (#21). Among tracked cities with at least three schools, Gretna has the highest graduation rate at 98%.
Why are people leaving Nebraska?
Nebraska lost a net 1,484 households in the latest IRS release: 21,989 moved in and 23,473 moved out, -0.7 per 1,000 residents (#33 of 50). The largest source of arrivals is Iowa (3,156 households) and the most common destination is Iowa (3,172). Arriving households report an average income of $59,868 against $66,473 for those leaving, so movers out earn more than movers in. The IRS files count tax returns and say nothing about motives.
Is Nebraska a red or blue state?
Nebraska is a solidly red state: its Cook Partisan Voting Index is R+15, meaning it votes about 15 points more Republican than the country as a whole. The political lean is shown for context and is not part of the composite score.
What is it like living in Nebraska?
Quiet, cold half the year, and organized around Omaha. Most growth and paychecks sit in the Omaha and Lincoln corridor; everything west is small towns an hour apart along the Platte, with feedlots, ethanol plants and a lot of sky. Commutes average 19.9 minutes. Football Saturdays in Lincoln are the civic religion, and the legislature is the country's only one-house, nonpartisan body.
Is Nebraska a good place to raise a family?
On the numbers, a strong one: families rank #12, education #20, violent crime 33% below the national average. The Sarpy County suburbs, Papillion first, combine the best schools and lowest crime in the state. The costs are childcare at $15,080, 4% below the national average, and property tax that grows with the house. A family of four at $75,000 ends the year at a $8,385 shortfall, against a $11,758 shortfall in the median state.
Does Nebraska get tornadoes?
Yes, along with hail and river floods; the FEMA risk index of 48.5 ranks #43, mostly weather. The Omaha and Lincoln corridor sits on Tornado Alley's northern edge, and hail is the routine insurance claim. Spring floods on the Missouri and Platte have drowned whole towns; homeowners near either river carry flood coverage. Basements are standard, sirens get tested monthly, roofs get replaced often.
Is Nebraska tax-friendly for retirees?
Mixed; it depends on whether you own. Social Security is excluded from income tax, sales tax at 6.98% skips groceries, and a retiree couple at $75,000 ends the year at a $38,932 surplus, #20. Against that, property tax at 1.54% is 0.5 points above the national average, the senior homestead exemption is income-tested, and counties collect an inheritance tax. A renter on Social Security does well; a big-house owner does not.
Where in Nebraska should I live?
Sarpy County for families: Papillion has the state's highest score, Gretna its highest incomes, and Bellevue is the cheaper Offutt town. Omaha proper for a walkable neighborhood and corporate jobs. Lincoln for a college town and state work at lower prices. Kearney or Columbus for a small city at the lowest tracked costs, and Scottsbluff for the Rockies in view and a long drive.
All the numbers
Every metric behind Nebraska's 11 category scores, with the national figure beside each. Pick a category.