Best small towns to live in Nebraska

1. 1
   Oakland, NE Score 74/100

   1,552 people · typical home $152k · household income $69k · 18 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 18% of NE · 0.0% unemployment · 13 mi to a hospital

2. 2
   Wisner, NE Score 73/100

   1,461 people · typical home $140k · household income $62k · 14 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 11% of NE · 1.0% unemployment · 13 mi to a hospital

3. 3
   Hebron, NE Score 73/100

   1,577 people · typical home $139k · household income $66k · 20 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 25% of NE · 2.0% unemployment · 2 mi to a hospital

4. 4
   Bridgeport, NE Score 72/100

   1,342 people · typical home $105k · household income $60k · 22 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 14% of NE · 8.0% unemployment · 4 mi to a hospital

5. 5
   Ainsworth, NE Score 70/100

   1,697 people · typical home $107k · household income $53k · 35 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 29% of NE · 1.0% unemployment · 11 mi to a hospital

6. 6
   Albion, NE Score 69/100

   1,822 people · typical home $219k · household income $74k · 10 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 16% of NE · 1.0% unemployment · 3 mi to a hospital

7. 7
   Hartington, NE Score 69/100

   1,621 people · typical home $178k · household income $81k · 12 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 31% of NE · 1.0% unemployment · 21 mi to a hospital

8. 8
   Cambridge, NE Score 68/100

   1,082 people · typical home $123k · household income $62k · 44 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 45% of NE · 0.0% unemployment · 4 mi to a hospital

9. 9
   Atkinson, NE Score 68/100

   1,377 people · typical home $174k · household income $79k · 30 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 33% of NE · 1.0% unemployment · 1 mi to a hospital

10. 10
    Fairbury, NE Score 66/100

    3,888 people · typical home $102k · household income $53k · 14 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 89% of NE · 1.0% unemployment · 3 mi to a hospital

11. 11
    Geneva, NE Score 66/100

    2,193 people · typical home $169k · household income $80k · 18 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 69% of NE · 0.0% unemployment · 2 mi to a hospital

12. 12
    Ord, NE Score 65/100

    2,100 people · typical home $120k · household income $58k · 24 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 81% of NE · 0.0% unemployment · 1 mi to a hospital

13. 13
    Plainview, NE Score 65/100

    1,281 people · typical home $96k · household income $55k · 41 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 37% of NE · 7.0% unemployment · 4 mi to a hospital

14. 14
    Arlington, NE Score 64/100

    1,467 people · typical home $225k · household income $94k · 52 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 16% of NE · 1.0% unemployment · 7 mi to a hospital

15. 15
    Auburn, NE Score 64/100

    3,470 people · typical home $99k · household income $58k · 114 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 13% of NE · 4.0% unemployment · 2 mi to a hospital

16. 16
    Henderson, NE Score 63/100

    1,049 people · typical home $155k · household income $83k · 154 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 26% of NE · 1.0% unemployment · 2 mi to a hospital

17. 17
    McCook, NE Score 61/100

    7,314 people · typical home $154k · household income $57k · 28 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 14% of NE · 1.0% unemployment · 4 mi to a hospital

18. 18
    Bayard, NE Score 60/100

    1,531 people · typical home $110k · household income $68k · 14 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 96% of NE · 3.0% unemployment · 12 mi to a hospital

19. 19
    Pender, NE Score 60/100

    1,379 people · typical home $175k · household income $73k · 75 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 1% of NE · 6.0% unemployment · 1 mi to a hospital

20. 20
    Gothenburg, NE Score 60/100

    3,452 people · typical home $191k · household income $79k · 20 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 54% of NE · 1.0% unemployment · 5 mi to a hospital

21. 21
    Cozad, NE Score 60/100

    3,937 people · typical home $122k · household income $54k · 18 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 84% of NE · 1.0% unemployment · 3 mi to a hospital

22. 22
    Sutton, NE Score 60/100

    1,323 people · typical home $156k · household income $81k · schools in the top 53% of NE · 2.0% unemployment · 11 mi to a hospital

23. 23
    David City, NE Score 60/100

    3,017 people · typical home $165k · household income $66k · 71 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 28% of NE · 0.0% unemployment · 1 mi to a hospital

24. 24
    Imperial, NE Score 60/100

    2,210 people · typical home $159k · household income $74k · 106 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 24% of NE · 2.0% unemployment · 4 mi to a hospital

25. 25
    Superior, NE Score 58/100

    1,879 people · typical home $82k · household income $64k · schools in the top 84% of NE · 1.0% unemployment · 4 mi to a hospital

How we ranked them

Every small town in Nebraska with 1,000–15,000 people that stands on its own (not part of a big metro core, by USDA rural-urban codes) and has solid Census data. Each town is scored against the others in Nebraska on: affordability (household income vs. home prices), safety (violent crime, FBI), schools (reading proficiency vs. other Nebraska districts), jobs (unemployment, half weight) and everyday access (distance to a hospital and a grocery store, quarter weight each). Missing numbers count as average.

The "best" town is different for everyone — weather, size, politics, things to do and more all matter too.

All places in Nebraska →