Finest Locations to Reside in Nebraska

When individuals consider Nebraska, they might think about these “amber waves of grain” from the music “America the Stunning.” And so they’d be proper! As a part of the nice American prairie, Nebraska has its share of limitless farming fields (it’s referred to as the Cornhusker State, in any case). However there’s extra to Nebraska than cows and corn (although Nebraska is the biggest producer of popcorn within the nation.¹ From tech to banking, Nebraska has rather a lot going for it, in addition to for the parents who dwell there.

When you’re testing this text, likelihood is you’re eager about placing down roots in Nebraska. Whether or not you’re a retiree searching for a quiet place out west or a younger skilled scoping out a spot to work remotely, we’ll aid you slender down one of the best locations to dwell in Nebraska.

In regards to the Cornhusker State

There’s a cause agriculture is Nebraska’s high trade: The land is fairly flat, with wealthy, fertile soil. That makes it very best for crop manufacturing and processing, in addition to meat manufacturing (Nebraska is often known as the Beef State). With a lot open land, a lot of the state is sparsely populated. A lot of the state’s 2 million residents dwell within the japanese area alongside the Interstate 80 hall. Outdoors of Omaha and Lincoln, most cities are within the 1,000–20,000 inhabitants vary.²

However those that do name Nebraska house come from real frontier inventory—hardworking, neighborly Midwesterners who assist one another and their neighborhood. Additionally they love their school soccer and have an attention-grabbing humorousness, with many native companies calling themselves Aksarben, like Aksarben Cleaners, Aksarben Eye Care, and so forth. Whereas this would possibly sound like one thing out of Harry Potter, it’s really Nebraska spelled backward.

You do should be fairly hardy and full of fine humor to dwell in Nebraska. The Cornhusker State has 4 distinct seasons—with humid summers and lengthy, chilly winters. And tornadoes are widespread within the springtime and early summer time.

Nebraska’s low inhabitants—and subsequently smaller tax base—contributes to its excessive property taxes (the fourth-highest within the U.S.).³ However its state revenue tax is nearer to the center in comparison with different states.⁴ The excellent news is that the state is taking steps to cut back the tax burden for each people and companies—all the time a plus!⁵

The Finest Locations to Reside in Nebraska

Earlier than we undergo this record, let’s get one factor straight: All “greatest locations” lists are subjective, together with this one. Whereas we did use some information (inhabitants, house and hire costs, and so forth.), a “greatest place to dwell” will finally rely in your private preferences and wishes. However so as to add credibility to our record, we bought the within scoop from some former and present Nebraskans, together with a couple of RamseyTrusted^® actual property execs within the state.

Omaha

The signal welcoming you to Omaha off I-80 has two full-size locomotives on high of it—a becoming image of town’s persona and historical past. Based by frontier settlers in 1854 on the assembly place of the Platte and Missouri rivers, Omaha was made by the railroad. In 1869, Council Bluffs, Iowa (Omaha’s cross-border sister metropolis) grew to become the start line for America’s first transcontinental railroad, which introduced new residents and trendy industries like meat packing to Omaha.

And that pioneering spirit nonetheless exists at this time—in additional methods than one.

“Omaha is an outstanding metropolis,” mentioned Benjamin Smail, an Omaha-based RamseyTrusted actual property agent. “The Omaha motto is ‘We Don’t Coast,’ which has two meanings: We don’t have coasts. But in addition, we don’t coast at what we do. We excel.”

Now Nebraska’s largest metropolis, Omaha is a industrial hub and residential to many well-known firms, like Union Pacific Railroad, Mutual of Omaha insurance coverage firm, and investor Warren Buffett’s Berkshire-Hathaway (Buffett lives in Omaha).The realm’s largest employer is the close by Offutt Air Power Base.⁶

After all, Omahans additionally play as arduous as they work. The Previous Market leisure district is an out of doors gathering place in a historic a part of town. It’s full of classy retailers, eating places, bars and galleries—and it hosts festivals and different particular occasions all year long. The Faculty World Sequence is held in Omaha yearly at Charles Schwab Area. Vala’s Pumpkin Patch & Apple Orchard is a favourite household enjoyable spot within the fall. The Joslyn Artwork Museum affords free admission all 12 months lengthy (and we like free!). And Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium is persistently rated among the many greatest zoos within the nation.

“And all of that comes with an inexpensive price of dwelling, form individuals, high quality colleges and an important meals scene,” Benjamin added.

^{*Metro space inhabitants contains town and surrounding city and suburban areas.
**Median month-to-month hire is predicated on a two-bedroom residence.}

Nice Omaha Suburbs

Need all the advantages of Omaha with just a little extra elbow room? Take a look at these close by suburbs:

Gretna
Bennington
Blair

Lincoln

Omaha often is the largest metropolis in Nebraska, however Lincoln is the middle of state authorities. Initially often known as Lancaster, Lincoln bought a brand new title (in honor of Sincere Abe) when it grew to become the state capital in 1867. Town’s skyline is now dominated by the spectacular 400-foot-tall Capitol constructing (the second-tallest within the nation).

Lincoln is a university city—house to the College of Nebraska Cornhuskers. It’s mentioned that when followers pack Memorial Stadium for soccer video games, it turns into the third-largest metropolis in Nebraska.

The college itself is the third-largest employer within the metropolis, behind the State of Nebraska and Lincoln Public Faculties.¹³ However Lincoln’s job market is not restricted to authorities and schooling. Well being care is town’s high personal trade, adopted by manufacturing (together with the principle plant for Kawasaki Motors’ North American operations).¹⁴ Lincoln additionally has an rising tech sector and, along with Omaha, is likely one of the facilities of what’s referred to as the Silicon Prairie, with many small tech start-ups coming to the state.

Lincoln prides itself on being a secure, inexperienced metropolis targeted on neighborhood. Over 98% of properties are inside a mile of one of many metropolis’s strolling trails, and 80% are inside a half mile of at the least one park.¹⁵ The Haymarket District in downtown Lincoln is house to over 200 companies, retailers and eating places—and it serves as a social hub with occasions just like the annual Chocolate Lover’s Fantasy.

Even with its college-town vibes and big-city facilities, Lincoln nonetheless affords a relaxed tempo of life. “I’ve spent my life right here, and at every flip there’s alternative to become involved in one thing you get pleasure from,” mentioned Taylor Wyatt, a Lincoln-based RamseyTrusted actual property professional, who works alongside his spouse, Brooke.“ On the similar time, it’s not so busy you could’t get pleasure from what it has to supply. Most individuals exterior of Lincoln don’t understand it’s past a traditional school city. We love small-town Nebraska, which is definitely accessible for us, however Lincoln is metropolis dwelling!”

^{*Metro space inhabitants contains town and surrounding city and suburban areas.
**Median month-to-month hire is predicated on a two-bedroom residence.}

Kearney

About two hours west of Lincoln, alongside I-80, you’ll go below a large archway straddling the freeway, marking town of Kearney (pronounced kar-nee). The Nice Platte River Street Archway Monument was created as a tribute to the city’s historical past. Kearney was based in 1848 as a frontier outpost (the city was named after a well-known Military common). It developed right into a stopover for the transcontinental railroad—after which a crossroads alongside the well-known Lincoln Freeway.

In the present day, Kearney is a metropolis with one foot prior to now and the opposite within the right here and now. Town’s downtown—often known as The Bricks due to its brick-paved streets—is a historic district providing distinctive eating places and retailers, a theater, and extra. The realm was developed to attraction to the scholars from the College of Nebraska at Kearney (go Lopers!), who maintain the youthful vibe going. And whereas the college is certainly one of Kearney’s high employers, industries like agriculture, well being care and tourism are additionally an enormous a part of the native economic system.²²

By the way in which, that Nice Platte River Street Archway we talked about earlier is greater than only a monument. There’s a complete interactive museum advanced inside the archway telling the story of the pioneers who blazed the trail throughout the untamed Nebraska wilderness.

^{*Micro space inhabitants contains town and surrounding city and suburban areas.
**Median month-to-month hire is predicated on all residence sorts.}

Grand Island

You wouldn’t anticipate finding an island in the course of the Nebraska prairie, however that’s simply what Grand Island is . . . or was. See, there really was a 50-mile-long island within the Platte River, which French fur merchants named La Grande Isle within the 1820s. Settlers first got here to dwell on the island in 1857, however by the late 1860s, individuals started shifting off the island to a brand new city to the north constructed by Union Pacific. And that city grew to become Grand Island.

The island itself now not exists (because of pure and man-made modifications to the waterway), however the metropolis of Grand Island remains to be a neighborhood filled with vitality and innovation, whereas retaining its rural, small-town really feel. Grand Island has been by means of many modifications and challenges, together with a mega storm that unleashed seven (sure, seven!) tornadoes on a single day in 1980. In the present day, town continues to develop, including industries like manufacturing, distribution and logistics, and information to its conventional agricultural sectors.²⁹ Chief Industries, a world manufacturing firm, is likely one of the space’s largest employers.

The Nebraska State Honest is held yearly in Grand Island. And buyers and diners can discover one-of-a-kind treasures and attractive treats within the Railside District and alongside Merchandise Mile. The 200-acre Stuhr Museum and the 25,000-square-foot Elevating Nebraska academic heart can train you in regards to the previous, current and way forward for your new hometown (and past). Metropolis parks, mountain climbing trails and the Island Oasis water park maintain everybody busy and lively.

^{*Metro space inhabitants contains town and surrounding city and suburban areas.
**Median month-to-month hire is predicated on all residence sorts.}

Hastings

It might appear like one other small city in Nebraska, however Hastings has a one-of-a-kind identification that’ll make you go, “Oh yeah!”—Kool-Assist Man-style. That’s as a result of Kool-Assist was invented right here in 1927. That “Kool” legacy lives on on the annual Kool-Assist Days competition and within the interactive Kool-Assist exhibit on the Hastings Museum.

Hastings can be house to the Nebraska Bigfoot Museum and the Nebraska Bigfoot Pageant—there have been a number of Bigfoot “sightings” over time. And occasions just like the Flatwater Music Pageant and the PRCA Oregon Path Rodeo join this neighborhood to its pioneer roots.

Hastings has been an agricultural heart for generations. However its economic system additionally contains manufacturing, meals processing and well being care.³⁶ And town has develop into a magnet for small companies and entrepreneurs. Downtown Hastings is present process a large redevelopment, with upper-level residential areas and many domestically owned retailers and eateries.

In keeping with Hastings-based RamseyTrusted actual property professional Susan Spady, Hastings is a neighborhood with rather a lot going for it. “I am unable to categorical how a lot I get pleasure from serving this nice space,” Susan mentioned. “We’ve got been blessed with wonderful colleges, prospering neighborhoods and loads of kindness to go round.”

^{*Micro space inhabitants contains town and surrounding city and suburban areas.
**Median month-to-month hire is predicated on all residence sorts close to Hastings Faculty, which is in Hastings.}

Finest Locations to Reside in Nebraska for Households

Nebraska’s pleasant individuals and tight-knit communities make the state an important place to lift a household. Listed below are a couple of cities we’ve discovered that stand out above the remaining:

Bennington
Grand Island
Gretna
Kearney
Omaha

Finest Locations to Reside in Nebraska for Younger Adults

When you’re younger, single, and shifting to the Cornhusker State for a kind of new tech jobs—or another job—take a look at these cities with actions and nightlife geared towards younger professionals:

Kearney
Lincoln
Omaha       

Able to Transfer to Nebraska?

The Cornhusker State has rather a lot to supply anybody and everybody. And should you’re actually eager about shifting to Nebraska, you’re going to want somebody who is aware of the realm just like the again of their hand.

A RamseyTrusted actual property professional, like those featured on this article, will aid you discover the fitting house that gained’t break your funds. They’re targeted on what’s greatest for you—that’s what being RamseyTrusted means.