Best counties to retire to in Nebraska
Best counties to retire to in Nebraska
Buyers and sellers of real estate alike—when asked what the three most essential considerations about a property are—will nearly always reply "location, location, location." While this answer is sometimes tongue-in-cheek, it is often quite accurate, and this reply perhaps applies to retirees more than any other demographic. Settling down after a lifetime of working and possibly raising a family calls for the perfect location: a spot where you can enjoy life with as few concerns as possible.
When seniors aged 65 or older decide where they want to live out their golden years, they consider particular factors, such as the cost of living, government services, health care facilities, weather and overall climate, crime rate, outdoor recreational activities, eating establishments, cultural and entertainment opportunities, and more.
To find the best counties to retire to in Nebraska based on these criteria, Stacker compiled a list using 2025 rankings from Niche, which ranks counties based on cost of living, health care access, recreation, weather, and more. You can read more about Niche's methodology here.
While location is critical as retirees determine where to spend their senior years enjoying favorite activities, it's a unique decision based on many preferences and needs. Whether it be bustling downtowns or access to parks, affordable home prices or cultural amenities like museums, retirees seeking to settle in a permanent spot are sure to find a private paradise in any of these counties recommended by Niche because, in the end, there is no place like home—no matter the location.
Read on to discover the best counties to retire to in Nebraska.
#25. Madison County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), cost of living (B), weather (C+), outdoor activities (C-)
- Population: 35,535
- Median household income: $64,637
- Median home value: $196,000
- Top places to live: Norfolk (B-), Newman Grove (B+), Tilden (B)
#24. Cuming County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), cost of living (A-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 8,976
- Median household income: $70,708
- Median home value: $174,900
- Top places to live: West Point (B+), Cleveland Township (B+), Wisner (B+)
#23. Jefferson County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), cost of living (A-), weather (A), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 7,155
- Median household income: $60,568
- Median home value: $117,600
- Top places to live: Fairbury (B-), Diller (B+), Daykin (B)
#22. Seward County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), cost of living (B), weather (A), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 17,636
- Median household income: $81,122
- Median home value: $232,400
- Top places to live: Seward (A-), Milford (B+), Staplehurst (B)
#21. Custer County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), cost of living (B+), weather (B), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 10,544
- Median household income: $66,310
- Median home value: $160,500
- Top places to live: Broken Bow (B+), Broken Bow Township (B+), Arnold Township (B+)
#20. Dixon County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), cost of living (A-), weather (C+), outdoor activities (C)
- Population: 5,561
- Median household income: $69,156
- Median home value: $141,400
- Top places to live: Newcastle Township (B+), Newcastle (B+), Ponca (B+)
#19. Antelope County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), cost of living (A-), weather (C+), outdoor activities (D+)
- Population: 6,302
- Median household income: $63,750
- Median home value: $116,900
- Top places to live: Logan Township (B), Clearwater (B), Neligh (B)
#18. Keith County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), cost of living (B+), weather (A+), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 8,239
- Median household income: $58,132
- Median home value: $157,000
- Top places to live: Ogallala (B+), Paxton (B), Brule (C)
#17. Gage County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (B+), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 21,646
- Median household income: $64,426
- Median home value: $167,100
- Top places to live: Beatrice (B-), Blakely Township (A-), Paddock Township (B+)
#16. Adams County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (B+), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 31,034
- Median household income: $65,680
- Median home value: $185,800
- Top places to live: Hastings (B), Denver Township (A-), West Blue Township (B+)
#15. Phelps County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (B+), weather (B-), outdoor activities (C-)
- Population: 8,983
- Median household income: $65,988
- Median home value: $173,300
- Top places to live: Holdrege (B), Bertrand (B-), Funk (B-)
#14. Washington County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (B), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 20,989
- Median household income: $90,188
- Median home value: $278,300
- Top places to live: Blair (A-), Washington Township (A-), Arlington Township (B+)
#13. Clay County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (C)
- Population: 6,084
- Median household income: $75,938
- Median home value: $146,300
- Top places to live: Sutton (B+), Clay Center (B), Edgar Township (B)
#12. Sheridan County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (not available), outdoor activities (C)
- Population: 5,058
- Median household income: $56,900
- Median home value: $102,900
- Top places to live: Gordon (B), Rushville (B), Hay Springs (B-)
#11. Otoe County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (B+), weather (A), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 16,075
- Median household income: $81,430
- Median home value: $185,000
- Top places to live: Nebraska City (B+), Syracuse (A-), Unadilla (B)
#10. Polk County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (A), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 5,209
- Median household income: $71,771
- Median home value: $177,800
- Top places to live: Stromsburg (B+), Osceola (B+), Shelby (B)
#9. Butler County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (C)
- Population: 8,413
- Median household income: $82,603
- Median home value: $165,700
- Top places to live: David City (A-), Center Township (B+), Linwood Township (B+)
#8. Cedar County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (A), outdoor activities (C-)
- Population: 8,344
- Median household income: $73,977
- Median home value: $175,500
- Top places to live: Laurel (A-), Fordyce (B+), Hartington (B)
#7. Richardson County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (A), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 7,797
- Median household income: $55,578
- Median home value: $96,500
- Top places to live: Falls City (B), Humboldt (B), Shubert (B)
#6. Nemaha County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A-), weather (A), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 7,035
- Median household income: $60,132
- Median home value: $125,100
- Top places to live: Auburn (B), Peru (A), Johnson (B+)
#5. York County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (B+), weather (B-), outdoor activities (C)
- Population: 14,231
- Median household income: $74,058
- Median home value: $175,900
- Top places to live: York (B), Bradshaw (A-), Henderson (B+)
#4. Boone County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A-), weather (not available), outdoor activities (D-)
- Population: 5,366
- Median household income: $71,367
- Median home value: $164,700
- Top places to live: Petersburg (B), Albion (B), Cedar Rapids (B-)
#3. Knox County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A), weather (C+), outdoor activities (C-)
- Population: 8,362
- Median household income: $64,821
- Median home value: $116,900
- Top places to live: Morton Township (B+), Crofton (B), Wausa (B)
#2. Fillmore County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A), weather (B-), outdoor activities (C)
- Population: 5,551
- Median household income: $76,354
- Median home value: $131,200
- Top places to live: Geneva Township (A-), Geneva (B+), Shickley (B)
#1. Burt County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 6,730
- Median household income: $57,303
- Median home value: $125,400
- Top places to live: Oakland (A-), Craig Township (B+), Tekamah (B+)
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.
