The 20 Worst Places to Live in Nebraska

Grand Island

Like all the states, Nebraska has some great places to live and some other places that do not offer a good lifestyle. Each of the towns and cities has positives and negatives, and those with a higher proportion of negative points are considered undesirable.

Some of the factors that people consider when deciding whether somewhere is not a good place to live include crime rates, unemployment statistics, whether the schools perform poorly and if there is a lack of leisure and entertainment options in the area. If an area ranks poorly in these areas, it is considered an undesirable place to live. Based on these factors, here are the 20 worst places to live in Nebraska.

Holdrege

20. Holdrege

Although there are many positive features to life in Holdrege, violent crime is a significant issue in this city. Violent crime is the bigger problem, as it has the ninth-highest violent crime rate in the state. A further issue is the lack of outdoor activities in the area, so there are not many options for those who enjoy spending time outdoors. Some of the plus points to this town in Phelps County are the job opportunities and the above-average schools.

Chadron

19. Chadron

Crime is one of the predominant reasons that Chadron is a bad place to live, as it has the 15th highest crime rate in Nebraska, according to FBI data. If it was not for the high crime rates, then Chadron would be considered a desirable place to live, as it is a location with many positive features.

It is a great option for families, as the schools are highly-rated and there are plenty of family-oriented activities in the area.  Other good points in this town are the lively nightlife, many job opportunities, and community diversity. Chadron is a town in Dawes County with a population of 5,654.

York

18. York

York is a town in York County that is home to 7,859 people. It is the 14th most dangerous place to live in Nebraska, and property crime is the biggest issue, as this location has the 10th highest property crime rate. Therefore, crime is the main reason for this location’s inclusion on the list. Another problem for residents of this town is the lack of outdoor activities.

On the other hand, York has some positive features that you may find appealing. These include community diversity, above-average schools, plentiful employment opportunities, and decent transport links.

Bellevue

17. Bellevue

Bellevue is a suburb of Omaha in Sarpy County with a population of 55,225 residents. There are pros and cons to living in Bellevue, and its worst feature is the high crime rate. Bellevue has the 13th highest crime rate in the state. However, if you can set aside the issues with crime, then it is a location with a lot to offer.

Many families are attracted to the area due to the above-average schools and the wide range of family activities the area offers. Other positive features of this location include community diversity, varied employment opportunities, good transport links, and a variety of leisure and entertainment options in the area.

Papillion

16. Papillion

Papillion is a suburb of Omaha in Sarpy County, and it has a population of 20,466 people. One of the main reasons that Papillion is included on the list is because it has the 11th highest crime rate in Nebraska. If you can overcome the safety issues in this area, then it is a location with a lot to offer.

The public schools are highly-rated, there are many family-oriented activities, there are both outdoor and indoor attractions to enjoy, the job opportunities are plentiful, and the community is diverse. Therefore, many people who live in Papillion have a good lifestyle, despite the issues with crime.

Hastings

15. Hastings

Hastings is the 10th most dangerous place to live in Nebraska, and property crime is a particular issue as it has the fourth most property crimes in the state. The other major issue in Hastings is the schools, as they are poorly rated.

However, there are also some plus points about this location, such as varied job opportunities, plenty of leisure and entertainment options, and a diverse community. It is an area that appeals to young people due to the lively nightlife. Hastings is a city in Adams County with a population of just under 25,000 people.

South Sioux City

14. South Sioux City

South Sioux City is in Dakota County, and it is home to just under 13,000 people. It has the fifth-most property crime and the 11th-highest violent crime rate in Nebraska, so it is the ninth-most dangerous place to live in the state overall. Other issues in this area include the poorly rated schools and a lack of outdoor and leisure activities for residents to enjoy in their spare time. On the other hand, there are plentiful job opportunities and good transport links in South Sioux City.

Sidney

13. Sidney

Although there are several problems in Sidney, crime is one of the biggest issues, as it is the seventh-most dangerous place to live. It has the ninth-highest property crime rate and the sixth-most violent crimes. It also has a lack of outdoor and leisure activities for residents to enjoy. On the other hand, there are some features of this city that mean it can offer a decent lifestyle. For example, the schools are rated as above-average, there are bars and restaurants, and the employment opportunities are reasonable.

Nebraska City

12. Nebraska City

Nebraska City is a town in Otoe County with a population of 7,263 people, says Niche. One of the primary reasons that Nebraska City is on this list is the lack of safety, as it is the fourth-most dangerous place to live in the state. Another problem in Nebraska City is that the schools are ranked as below-average. However, there are also some positive aspects of this location, including vibrant nightlife and reasonable job opportunities.

Lincoln

11. Lincoln

Lincoln is the third-most dangerous place to live in Nebraska, and it is mainly for this reason that it is considered an undesirable place in which to live. Other than the crime rates, there are not many negative points to this city in Lancaster County, which has a population of 280,849. It has highly-rated public schools, activities and attractions for all ages, community diversity, and employment opportunities in a diverse range of industries.

Beatrice

10. Beatrice

Beatrice is not a great area for family, as the schools in this area have low ratings, and there is a lack of activities and attractions for families. There are also economic issues, as it has the 13th-highest unemployment rate, the fifth-lowest median home values, and some of the lowest incomes in the state. Another area of concern in Beatrice is the crime, as it is in the top 20 most dangerous places to live in Nebraska.

North Platte

9. North Platte

North Platte is home to 23,892 people. It is the second-most dangerous place to live in Nebraska, so the biggest surprise is that it does not rank higher on the list of the worst places to live in the state. This city has the third-highest property crime rate and the fifth-most violent crime in Nebraska. Unfortunately, the crime rates are far from the only problem in North Platte. It also has underfunded schools, the 11th worst unemployment rate, and the 10th lowest median home values.

Fremont

8. Fremont

One of the main reasons that Fremont makes it into the top ten worst places to live in Nebraska is the high crime rates, as it is the 12th most dangerous place to live in the state. It has the 12th highest property crime rate and the 15th most violent crime in Nebraska. A further issue in Fremont is a lack of job opportunities, as it has the fourth-highest unemployment rate in Nebraska.

Another negative point is the public schools, as these are ranked as performing significantly below average. However, life is not all bad in Fremont, as there are plenty of activities to enjoy in the area.

Lexington

7. Lexington

A lack of safety is a significant concern in Lexington, as it is the 16th most dangerous place to live in the state. It has the 13th most violent crimes and the 17th most property crimes. It is also not an economically sound place, as the median home value is the lowest in the state, and it has the fifth-highest unemployment rate at 5.9 percent. A further problem is the poorly-rated schools, so it is probably not the best choice of place to live for families. Lexington is a town in Dawson County that is home to 10,067 people.

Alliance

6. Alliance

Although crime is not one of the major concerns in Alliance, it is a location with many other areas of concern. It has the third-highest unemployment rate at 5.9 percent and the fourth-lowest median home value. The area is also lacking in leisure and entertainment options, so it is not a lot of fun for the 8,235 residents. Another problem is the public schools, as these are underfunded and rank poorly. On the upside, the transport links are good, and the community is diverse.

Omaha

5. Omaha

Omaha is the largest city in Nebraska. It is in Douglas County, and it has a population of 475,862. Overall, Omaha is the most dangerous place to live in Nebraska, so it is no surprise to see it rank so highly on the list of the worst places to live in Omaha. Furthermore, the salaries are some of the lowest in the state, the unemployment rate is the ninth-worst in Nebraska, and 13.4 percent of the residents are living below the poverty line.

Plattsmouth

4. Plattsmouth

Plattsmouth is only a small place with a population of just 6,448 people, yet it has some big problems. The lack of employment opportunities is probably the biggest issue, as it has the second-highest unemployment rate at six percent. Crime is also a concern in Plattsmouth, as it is the 18th most dangerous place to live overall. Violent crime is the greatest area of concern, as it has the eighth-highest violent crime rate in the state. It is also not a good option for families, as the schools in the area are poorly rated.

Scottsbluff

3. Scottsbluff

As it is the sixth-most dangerous place to live overall, it is no surprise that Scottsbluff is so high on this list. However, a lack of employment opportunities is an even bigger problem, as Scottsbluff has the highest unemployment rate in the state, at 6.4 percent. It also has the ninth-lowest median home value, which shows a lack of demand for housing in the area, and this is a sign that it is an undesirable place to live. An additional problem is the lack of leisure and entertainment options.

Grand Island

2. Grand Island

Grand Island is the fifth-most dangerous place to live in Nebraska, which is one of the primary reasons it is in the second position on the list. It has the third-most violent crimes and eighth-most property crimes. Grand Island also has some economic issues, as it has an unemployment rate of 4.2 percent, which is the 10th worst in the state, and those who are employed have low incomes. Furthermore, many residents have a long commute to work.

Crete

1. Crete

According to Road Snacks, the worst place to live in Nebraska is Crete. One reason for this is the lack of safety, as it is the eighth-most dangerous place to live in the state. It has the 15th most property crimes in Nebraska, and, more concerningly, there are more violent crimes in Crete than in any other location in Nebraska. Sadly, the lack of safety is not the only concern in Crete. It also has the sixth-highest unemployment rate at 5.3 percent and the second-lowest median home value.

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