Best counties to live in Nebraska

Written by:
April 8, 2024
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Best counties to live in Nebraska

More counties in the United States experienced population growth in the last year, according to the latest Census data, even as pandemic-related moving trends begin to normalize.

Counties in the South continued to experience growth, particularly in Florida, where 96% of its 67 counties gained new residents. Polk County, Florida, a suburb of Orlando, added the most, with 26,000 people moving there in 2023.

Meanwhile, counties in the Midwest and Northeast continued to lose population, but at slower rates than the year before. Some of the biggest losses were in counties home to large cities, including Cook County, Illinois (home of Chicago) and the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens in New York.

Many counties are experiencing growth due to their job opportunities, education, or relatively affordable housing costs. Others are favored for their historic or well-designed downtowns or access to cultural opportunities.

Stacker compiled a list of the best counties to live in Nebraska using rankings from Niche. Niche ranks counties by various factors including public schools, educational attainment, cost of living, and housing.

Keep reading to see if your county made the list.

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Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock

#30. Platte County, Nebraska

- Overall Rank: 987
- Population: 34,219
- Median household income: $69,943
- Median home value: $195,800 (75% own)
- Median rent: $872 (25% rent)
- Top public schools: Lakeview High School (grade B), Lakeview Junior High School (grade B), Columbus High School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools: Scotus Central Catholic High School (grade B), Lindsay Holy Family School (grade B minus), St. Francis Schools (grade C+)
- Top places: Columbus (grade B), Walker Township (grade A minus), Monroe Township (grade B+)

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#29. Clay County, Nebraska

- Overall Rank: 963
- Population: 6,088
- Median household income: $73,933
- Median home value: $129,600 (80% own)
- Median rent: $668 (20% rent)
- Top public schools: Sandy Creek Middle School (grade B+), Sutton Secondary School (grade B), Sutton Elementary School (grade B)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Leicester Township (grade B+), Sutton (grade B+), Clay Center (grade B+)

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#28. Hall County, Nebraska

- Overall Rank: 938
- Population: 62,575
- Median household income: $63,553
- Median home value: $190,800 (62% own)
- Median rent: $886 (38% rent)
- Top public schools: Wood River Rural High School (grade A minus), Westridge Middle School (grade B+), Cedar Hollow School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Grand Island Central Catholic School (grade A minus), Heartland Lutheran High School (grade B), Trinity Lutheran School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Grand Island (grade B minus), Center Township (grade A), Wood River Township (grade B+)

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#27. Custer County, Nebraska

- Overall Rank: 937
- Population: 10,566
- Median household income: $62,288
- Median home value: $133,400 (70% own)
- Median rent: $765 (30% rent)
- Top public schools: Arnold Elementary School (grade B+), North Park Elementary School (grade B), Sargent Elementary School (grade B)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Broken Bow (grade B+), Arnold Township (grade B+), Arnold (grade B+)

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#26. Adams County, Nebraska

- Overall Rank: 914
- Population: 31,143
- Median household income: $61,502
- Median home value: $166,300 (68% own)
- Median rent: $812 (32% rent)
- Top public schools: Adams Central Elementary School (grade B+), Adams Central Junior/Senior High School (grade B+), Kenesaw High School (grade B)
- Top private schools: St. Cecilia High School (grade B), St. Michael's School (grade unavailable), Christ Lutheran School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Hastings (grade B), West Blue Township (grade A minus), Denver Township (grade A minus)

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SevenMaps // Shutterstock

#25. Dixon County, Nebraska

- Overall Rank: 819
- Population: 5,579
- Median household income: $60,568
- Median home value: $123,500 (75% own)
- Median rent: $676 (25% rent)
- Top public schools: Emerson-Hubbard Elementary School (grade A minus), Ponca Elementary School (grade B+), Ponca High School (grade B)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Ponca (grade A minus), Newcastle Township (grade A minus), Newcastle (grade B+)

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culturalrelic // Shutterstock

#24. Saunders County, Nebraska

- Overall Rank: 805
- Population: 22,374
- Median household income: $84,474
- Median home value: $220,600 (81% own)
- Median rent: $892 (19% rent)
- Top public schools: Wahoo Middle School (grade B+), Ashland-Greenwood Elementary School (grade B+), Ashland-Greenwood High School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Bishop Neumann Jr/Sr Catholic High School (grade B minus), St. Wenceslaus School (grade unavailable), St. John Nepomucene School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Wahoo (grade A minus), Ashland (grade B+), Ashland Township (grade A minus)

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#23. Cass County, Nebraska

- Overall Rank: 768
- Population: 26,749
- Median household income: $87,673
- Median home value: $234,300 (83% own)
- Median rent: $970 (17% rent)
- Top public schools: Elmwood-Murdock Elementary School (grade A minus), Elmwood-Murdock Junior/Senior High School (grade A minus), Conestoga Elementary School (grade B)
- Top private schools: First Baptist School (grade B minus), St. John the Baptist School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Plattsmouth (grade B minus), Louisville (grade A minus), Elmwood (grade A minus)

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#22. York County, Nebraska

- Overall Rank: 740
- Population: 14,212
- Median household income: $72,914
- Median home value: $160,500 (75% own)
- Median rent: $842 (25% rent)
- Top public schools: Heartland Community High School (grade B+), Heartland Community Elementary School (grade B+), York Middle School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Nebraska Evangelical Lutheran High School (grade A), Emmanuel-Faith Lutheran School (grade unavailable), St. Joseph Catholic School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: York (grade B+), Bradshaw (grade A minus), Henderson (grade B+)

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#21. Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska

- Overall Rank: 734
- Population: 36,048
- Median household income: $60,137
- Median home value: $150,600 (68% own)
- Median rent: $876 (32% rent)
- Top public schools: Mitchell Secondary School (grade B+), Mitchell Elementary School (grade B), Geil Elementary School (grade B)
- Top private schools: St. Agnes Catholic School (grade unavailable), Community Christian Elementary/Middle School (grade unavailable), Helping Hands Preschool (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Gering (grade B+), Scottsbluff (grade B), Mitchell (grade B+)

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#20. Polk County, Nebraska

- Overall Rank: 727
- Population: 5,182
- Median household income: $67,695
- Median home value: $152,700 (81% own)
- Median rent: $636 (19% rent)
- Top public schools: Cross County Elementary School (grade A minus), Osceola Elementary School (grade A minus), Cross County Middle School (grade B+)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Stromsburg (grade A minus), Osceola (grade B+), Shelby (grade B)

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Alexander Lukatskiy // Shutterstock

#19. Otoe County, Nebraska

- Overall Rank: 710
- Population: 15,995
- Median household income: $73,031
- Median home value: $172,500 (77% own)
- Median rent: $881 (23% rent)
- Top public schools: Middle School at Syracuse (grade A minus), High School at Syracuse (grade B+), Elementary School at Syracuse (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Lourdes Central Catholic School (grade B+)
- Top places: Nebraska City (grade B+), Syracuse (grade A minus), Unadilla (grade B+)

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James Taivalkoski // Shutterstock

#18. Cuming County, Nebraska

- Overall Rank: 705
- Population: 9,000
- Median household income: $68,917
- Median home value: $160,000 (71% own)
- Median rent: $782 (29% rent)
- Top public schools: West Point Elementary School (grade A minus), Wisner-Pilger Elementary School (grade B+), Bancroft-Rosalie Junior/Senior High School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Guardian Angels Central Catholic High School (grade B+), Guardian Angels Elementary School (grade unavailable), St. Paul Lutheran School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: West Point (grade B+), Cleveland Township (grade B+), Beemer Township (grade B+)

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#17. Thayer County, Nebraska

- Overall Rank: 701
- Population: 5,006
- Median household income: $60,305
- Median home value: $91,600 (77% own)
- Median rent: $719 (23% rent)
- Top public schools: Thayer Central Intermediate School (grade A minus), Bruning-Davenport Middle School (grade B+), Thayer Central High School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Deshler Lutheran School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Bruning (grade A minus), Davenport (grade B+), Hebron (grade B)

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#16. Kearney County, Nebraska

- Overall Rank: 695
- Population: 6,655
- Median household income: $74,276
- Median home value: $203,200 (77% own)
- Median rent: $784 (23% rent)
- Top public schools: Minden East Elementary School (grade B+), C.L. Jones Middle School (grade B), Minden High School (grade B)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Minden (grade B+), Lincoln Township (grade B+), Blaine Township (grade B+)

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#15. Hamilton County, Nebraska

- Overall Rank: 686
- Population: 9,400
- Median household income: $73,254
- Median home value: $201,200 (81% own)
- Median rent: $822 (19% rent)
- Top public schools: Aurora Elementary School (grade A minus), Aurora Middle School (grade B+), Aurora High School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Hampton Lutheran School (grade unavailable), Immanuel Lutheran School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Aurora (grade B+), Overland (grade B), Giltner (grade B)

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#14. Butler County, Nebraska

- Overall Rank: 678
- Population: 8,373
- Median household income: $75,690
- Median home value: $150,400 (81% own)
- Median rent: $740 (19% rent)
- Top public schools: Bellwood Elementary School (grade A minus), David City Elementary School (grade B+), David City Secondary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Aquinas High School (grade B minus), St. Mary's School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: David City (grade A minus), Ulysses Township (grade A minus), Linwood Township (grade B+)

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#13. Holt County, Nebraska

- Overall Rank: 676
- Population: 10,149
- Median household income: $66,325
- Median home value: $148,900 (72% own)
- Median rent: $741 (28% rent)
- Top public schools: Atkinson Elementary School (grade A minus), West Holt High School (grade A minus), Chambers High School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: St. Mary's Catholic Schools (grade B minus), St. Joseph Elementary School (grade unavailable), Word of Life Christian School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: O'Neill (grade B+), Atkinson Township (grade A minus), Inman Township (grade A minus)

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#12. Washington County, Nebraska

- Overall Rank: 614
- Population: 20,884
- Median household income: $89,671
- Median home value: $265,800 (81% own)
- Median rent: $926 (19% rent)
- Top public schools: Blair North Elementary School (grade A), Deerfield Elementary School (grade A), Blair South Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: St. Paul Lutheran School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Blair (grade A minus), Washington Township (grade A minus), Arlington Township (grade B+)

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#11. Fillmore County, Nebraska

- Overall Rank: 559
- Population: 5,557
- Median household income: $72,335
- Median home value: $122,700 (81% own)
- Median rent: $643 (19% rent)
- Top public schools: Fillmore Central High School (grade B+), Shickley Elementary School (grade B+), Exeter-Milligan High School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Grace Lutheran School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Geneva Township (grade A), Geneva (grade A minus), Bennett Township (grade B+)

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#10. Cherry County, Nebraska

- Overall Rank: 525
- Population: 5,473
- Median household income: $62,373
- Median home value: $137,300 (57% own)
- Median rent: $832 (43% rent)
- Top public schools: Cody-Kilgore High School (grade A minus), Cody-Kilgore Middle School (grade A minus), Valentine Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Zion Lutheran School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Valentine (grade B+), Cody (grade B), Merriman (grade C+)

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#9. Wayne County, Nebraska

- Overall Rank: 508
- Population: 9,701
- Median household income: $64,951
- Median home value: $176,200 (69% own)
- Median rent: $764 (31% rent)
- Top public schools: Wayne High School (grade B+), Wayne Elementary School (grade B+), Wayne Junior High School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools: St. Mary Elementary School (grade unavailable), Trinity Lutheran School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Wayne (grade A minus), Carroll (grade B minus), Hoskins (grade B minus)

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#8. Saline County, Nebraska

- Overall Rank: 482
- Population: 14,275
- Median household income: $71,104
- Median home value: $155,800 (74% own)
- Median rent: $763 (26% rent)
- Top public schools: Crete Elementary School (grade A), Tri County Elementary School (grade A minus), Friend Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: St. James Elementary School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Crete (grade B+), De Witt (grade B+), Wilber (grade B)

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#7. Buffalo County, Nebraska

- Overall Rank: 350
- Population: 50,103
- Median household income: $70,093
- Median home value: $218,600 (66% own)
- Median rent: $885 (34% rent)
- Top public schools: Meadowlark Elementary School (grade A minus), Buffalo Hills Elementary School (grade A minus), Windy Hills Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Kearney Catholic High School (grade B+), Zion Lutheran School (grade unavailable), Faith Christian School of Kearney (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Kearney (grade A), Amherst (grade B+), Ravenna (grade B)

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#6. Nemaha County, Nebraska

- Overall Rank: 329
- Population: 7,019
- Median household income: $57,196
- Median home value: $118,300 (70% own)
- Median rent: $657 (30% rent)
- Top public schools: Elementary School at Johnson (grade A), High School at Johnson (grade A minus), Auburn Middle School (grade B)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Auburn (grade B+), Peru (grade A minus), Johnson (grade A minus)

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#5. Dawes County, Nebraska

- Overall Rank: 277
- Population: 8,279
- Median household income: $53,760
- Median home value: $142,100 (63% own)
- Median rent: $887 (37% rent)
- Top public schools: Chadron Middle School (grade A minus), Chadron Senior High School (grade B+), Chadron Intermediate School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Chadron (grade A), Crawford (grade B minus)

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#4. Seward County, Nebraska

- Overall Rank: 265
- Population: 17,644
- Median household income: $79,677
- Median home value: $208,700 (73% own)
- Median rent: $916 (27% rent)
- Top public schools: Seward Middle School (grade A), Seward Elementary School (grade A minus), Seward High School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: St. John Lutheran School (grade unavailable), St. Paul Lutheran School (grade unavailable), St. Vincent de Paul School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Seward (grade A), Milford (grade A minus), Staplehurst (grade B+)

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#3. Sarpy County, Nebraska

- Overall Rank: 146
- Population: 191,272
- Median household income: $95,911
- Median home value: $263,000 (70% own)
- Median rent: $1,203 (30% rent)
- Top public schools: Upchurch Elementary School (grade A), Liberty Middle School (grade A), Portal Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Gross Catholic High School (grade A minus), Cornerstone Christian School (grade B), St. Columbkille School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Papillion (grade A), Gretna (grade A), La Vista (grade A)

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#2. Lancaster County, Nebraska

- Overall Rank: 137
- Population: 322,063
- Median household income: $70,387
- Median home value: $239,900 (59% own)
- Median rent: $997 (41% rent)
- Top public schools: Lincoln East High School (grade A), Moore Middle School (grade A), Lux Middle School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Pius X High School (grade A minus), Lincoln Christian School (grade B+), Parkview Christian Schools (grade B+)
- Top places: Lincoln (grade A), Waverly (grade A minus), Yankee Hill (grade A minus)

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#1. Douglas County, Nebraska

- Overall Rank: 79
- Population: 582,638
- Median household income: $76,083
- Median home value: $227,400 (62% own)
- Median rent: $1,109 (38% rent)
- Top public schools: Blue Sage Elementary School (grade A+), Woodbrook Elementary School (grade A+), Sagewood Elementary School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Brownell Talbot College Preparatory School (grade A+), Mount Michael Benedictine High School (grade A+), Marian High School (grade A)
- Top places: Omaha (grade A), Bennington (grade A minus), Ralston (grade B+)

This story features data reporting and writing by Elena Cox and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.

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