Best counties to live in 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+)

- 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+)

- 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+)

- 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+)

- 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)

- 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+)

- 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)

- 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)

- 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+)

- 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+)

- 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)

- 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+)

- 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+)

- 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)

- 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+)

- 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)

- 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+)

- 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)

- 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+)

- 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+)

- 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+)

- 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)

- 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)

- 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)

- 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)

- 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)

- 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+)

- 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)

- 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)

- 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.