You’re also probably reminded of Husker sports teams from TV and movies, and their rabid collection of fans. If, like us, you played a lot of “The Oregon Trail” as a kid, you might also think of Chimney Rock. (Curse you, dysentery!
There’s more to Nebraska than the Cornhuskers and Berkshire Hathaway. This friendly midwestern state has a lot of heart.
When people think of Nebraska, a few images probably come to mind—expansive flat plains where livestock graze, farms, winding rivers that stretch on for miles. You also might be reminded of the Cornhuskers and their rabid collection of fans. If, like us, you played the Oregon Trail as a kid, Nebraska might make you nostalgic for Chimney Rock. (Curse you, dysentery!)
But if someone asked you about the best cities in Nebraska, what would you say? Omaha? Lincoln? Or would you have no clue?
Luckily, we do have a clue, and we decided that it’s time to highlight why Nebraska should be on your radar for places to live. While the state motto is “Equality before the law,” you’ll find that not all Nebraska cities are equal. We looked at the data, analyzed it, and narrowed it down to put the spotlight on these amazing Nebraska spots.
What makes a Nebraska city the “best”?
First, we generated a list of places by picking out the cities in Nebraska that have at least 5,000 residents, which came out to a shortlist of 31 cities. Then we collected data on those cities and analyzed certain criteria to determine how those cities ranked. The criteria are:
- Total amenities
- Quality of life (cost of living, median home price, median rent, median household income, and student-to-teacher ratio)
- Total crimes
- Tax rates (sales tax and income tax)
- Unemployment
- Commute time
- Weather (temperature and air quality)
Each location was then given a rank from 1 to 31 based on the individual criteria, with 1 being the best. Then we averaged those rankings and pulled the 10 cities with the best ranking. Nebraska cities surprised us with a lot of ties; that simply means that a lot of these places are so good that it’s hard to rate one above another. Let’s take a look at our proud victors and learn a little about what makes each of them so great.
1. Seward
Coming in at number 1 is Seward, a little place with a lot of patriotic heart. Even though it didn’t factor into our ranking criteria, the city is home to one of the greatest Fourth of July parties anywhere. Each year, the almost 50,000 Nebraskans flock to Seward for their celebration, over six times the city’s normal size.
For the rest of the year, with a population just over 7,000, it’s actually one of the smallest cities in our top 10 list. However, great things do come in small packages. Seward was safest in terms of crime rate with 1,025 crimes per 100,000 people. If you compare that to Omaha’s 4,036 per 100,000 people, that’s a major difference. It also ranked first in tax rate and summer temperatures.
Seward did fairly well in employment ranking too, with an unemployment rate that is 50 percent lower than the national average. In fact, there were very few areas in which Seward didn’t do extremely well. While its amenities are understandably lacking compared to some of the other places on our list, the charming small town gives back with quality of life.
2. Columbus
Coming in tied for second place, Columbus is a pretty impressive contender. Far more populated than Seward with a little over 23,000 residents, this city boasts some solid stats. Standing at seventh for amenities and 18th in quality of life, the city offers lots to comfortably see and do. Residents can tell you about Glur’s Tavern, once a favorite of “Buffalo Bill” Cody and still a fun favorite of locals today. The city is also home to many museums and exhibits, including the Andrew Jackson Higgins Memorial park with sculptures honoring the World War II hero and victims of 9/11.
With a low unemployment rate, a fast average commute time, and extremely affordable homes (it has a median home price of approximately $165,000), it’s no wonder Columbus is such a desirable place to live.
2. Papillion
Sharing second place is Papillion, a town just outside of Omaha that is home to approximately 20,000 residents and has some of the nicest summers you can find in the state. It ranked number 1 in overall weather for the state and came in at number 3 in quality of life and 4 in crime rate, so this city makes a real case for itself on the ranking board in many areas. Housing here is the most expensive, both to rent and own (the median home value is $275,000), but the median household income (approximately $80,000) is also the highest so it evens out.
Where Papillion didn’t do well is in commute time. The average commute is 20 minutes, which sets the city at number 28 in that criterion and pulled down its overall ranking from first place. Among its many amenities, Werner Park, home of the Kansas City Royals’s triple-A affiliate team the Omaha Storm Chasers, is located in Papillon.
4. Lincoln
For non-Nebraskans, you’ve probably heard of Lincoln. And for good reason. The most populous city on our list with over 280,000 residents also is home to the most amenities, second only to Omaha, which didn’t crack our overall top 10. In addition to shopping, parks, eating, and playing, the capital of Nebraska is home to a famous sunken garden and many museums.
However, a bigger population also means more crime, and Lincoln’s crime rate is 26 percent higher than the national average (although it’s violent crime rate is 5 percent lower than the rest of the country). Still, the demand to live in this city is high, with both rent prices and prices for homes ranking on the higher side compared to the rest of the state.
4. Kearney
Tied with Lincoln for fourth place, Kearney is quite a bit smaller but just as lively. Even though the population is only around 34,000, it still ranks fourth in amenities—above many much larger cities on the overall list. Just one of these attractions is the Tri-City Storm, a USHL hockey team and a great source of local pride. The people of Kearney have another reason to be proud; they have the lowest unemployment rate on our list at just 2.6 percent.
However, Kearney didn’t do so hot when it came to weather—literally. The average summer temp is only about 71, which ranks it at a dreary number 23 on our list for that criterion.
6. Norfolk
Not to be confused with its counterpart in Virginia, Norfolk is home to just under 25,000 people who are always able to get around their city with ease. The average commute here is great at only 13 minutes, which puts it at the top 10 for that criterion. Places like the Norfolk Arts Center, where people can view numerous traveling and rotating exhibits, are also a short drive away.
As far as cost of living is concerned, this much-desired city poses a bit of a challenge. It’s tied for first on our list for cost of living expenses with Nebraska City and Wayne, but its median home price is still an affordable $168,000. However, despite its small size, it ranks high for available amenities and low for unemployment, making Norfolk a great place to call home.
6. Nebraska City
In yet another tie, Nebraska City shares the number 6 spot with Norfolk. Nebraska City isn’t quite a city with just 7,300 residents, but this small town has got some big perks. For example, Arbor Day was first launched in this small city, and it’s still a big deal there to this day. Every final Friday in April, Nebraska City becomes a tree-lover’s paradise.
And this love of trees seems to be paying off. They rank first for air quality and enjoy one of the best climates on our list. Also ranking high in overall quality of life and with a very affordable median home price of $126,000, Nebraska City is the perfect place for those looking to escape to a small town and live at a slower pace.
8. Sidney
Another destination for people who love small towns, Sidney is the second smallest city on our top 10 list with just 6,300 Nebraskans. It ranks high in safety, commute, employment rate, and overall quality of life, but doesn’t fare quite as well when it comes to weather and amenities.
But while Sidney doesn’t have many amenities in town, it’s driveable to Denver and Fort Collins in case you want to take advantage of big city amenities for a weekend without the big city rent prices.
9. La Vista
Rounding out our list with another tie, La Vista is an affluent suburb of Omaha with pleasant weather and the highest quality of life score on our list. The size (approximately 17,000 residents) and cost of living (median home value of $211,000) make it comparable to nearby Papillon. Fortunately for residents, the median household income is higher than most of Nebraska at $67,000, so it makes the cost of living more reasonable.
The city boasts great amenities. Residents have Omaha nearby when they want some city distractions, and every year on Memorial Day weekend, La Vista hosts the Salute to Summer Festival and parade.
9. Wayne
Finishing up our top 10, and tied for ninth, is the biggest little city we found. Founded in 1881, Wayne’s Commercial Historic District is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The city has a population of only 5,600 but it makes up for its small size with some seriously great stats. This city boasts a low unemployment rate and one of the lowest crime rates on our list.
Because it’s such a small town, Wayne has fewer amenities, but this historic town isn’t lacking in charm. Just check out their whimsical annual Chicken Show, where every July the town comes together for a weekend of parades, outdoor markets, crafts, fireworks, and more.
Nebraska has much to offer
When it comes to Nebraska destinations, big or small, the small town of Seward has a lot to offer. With amazing weather, high employment, and a good crime rating, the historic city emerged a clear winner. While there are many great places to live in Nebraska, there were a few that weren’t quite up to snuff. South Sioux City, for example, ranked lowest in quality of life and employment and was near the bottom of our rankings in many other criteria. Barely above that, Lexington and Beatrice rounded out our bottom three with low scores in general across the board.
