Some of you might be asking yourself, at this very moment, is Nebraska a good place?
The answer is unequivocally yes… if you know where to locate the best counties to live in Nebraska.
Lucky for you, we’re here to help you identify the best counties to live in the Cornhusker State based on the most recently available data from the Census. And this isn’t our first rodeo — we’ve been using Saturday Night Science to rank places for years.
The question becomes if you wanted to relocate to the best part of Nebraska, where would you go? To answer that, we looked at crime, cost of living, and demographic data for all 93 counties in the state.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Table | FAQs | Summary
The 10 Best Counties To Live In Nebraska For 2026
Washington County is the county to be when it comes to living the good life in Nebraska. And you should avoid Morrill County if you can — at least according to the data.
Now you know exactly where to move in Nebraska. Keep on reading for more about the top ten and a detailed methodology.
Or, check out the best places to live in Nebraska and the cheapest places to live in Nebraska.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The Best Counties To Live In Nebraska For 2026
1. Washington County
Biggest Place: Blair
Population: 21,106
Median Income: $94,396 (2nd best)
Median Home Price: $392,211 (2nd best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.8% (44th best)
More on Washington County: Data
2. Saunders County
Biggest Place: Wahoo
Population: 23,048
Median Income: $94,066 (3rd best)
Median Home Price: $347,169 (6th best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.5% (62nd best)
More on Saunders County: Data
3. Sarpy County
Biggest Place: Bellevue
Population: 197,389
Median Income: $103,321 (best)
Median Home Price: $354,031 (5th best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.6% (65th best)
More on Sarpy County: Data
4. Cass County
Biggest Place: Plattsmouth
Population: 27,161
Median Income: $91,836 (4th best)
Median Home Price: $306,528 (11th best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.7% (39th best)
More on Cass County: Data
5. Hamilton County
Biggest Place: Aurora
Population: 9,464
Median Income: $83,994 (5th best)
Median Home Price: $294,647 (15th best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.3% (57th best)
More on Hamilton County: Data
6. Loup County
Biggest Place: Taylor
Population: 578
Median Income: $71,667 (3best)
Median Home Price: $354,650 (4th best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0% (2nd best)
More on Loup County: Data
7. Fillmore County
Biggest Place: Geneva
Population: 5,541
Median Income: $76,295 (19th best)
Median Home Price: $178,086 (64th best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.4% (9th best)
More on Fillmore County: Data
8. Stanton County
Biggest Place: Stanton
Population: 5,796
Median Income: $80,687 (9th best)
Median Home Price: $263,903 (20th best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.7% (15th best)
More on Stanton County: Data
9. Arthur County
Biggest Place: Arthur
Population: 484
Median Income: $76,250 (20th best)
Median Home Price: $215,428 (45th best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.4% (10th best)
More on Arthur County: Data
10. Boone County
Biggest Place: Albion
Population: 5,356
Median Income: $74,947 (22nd best)
Median Home Price: $289,333 (17th best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.2% (24th best)
More on Boone County: Data
Methodology: How do you determine which Nebraska county is the best?
To give you the best county in Nebraska, we have to look at a handful of metrics that signal the quality of a place. To do that, we made assumptions about what’s in a “best county” and what isn’t. For reference, we are trying to make the kind of argument you’d make at a bar using facts, Saturday Night Science.
With that in mind, we went to two of the best data sources on the internet. Namely, the American Community Survey data and FBI Crime data for the most recent period.
We paid particular attention to:
- Violent Crime Rates
- Property Crime Rates
- Median Home Values
- Median Income
- Unemployment Rates
- Adult Education Levels
- Health Insurance Coverage
- Poverty Rates
We then ranked each county in Nebraska across each of the criteria from one to 93, with one being the best.
Taking the average rank across all criteria, we created a quality of life score with the county posting the lowest overall score being the “Best County To Live In Nebraska.”
The result is some of the safest, quietest, and best counties to raise a family in the Cornhusker State.
We updated this article for 2026. This report is our eleventh time ranking the best counties to live in Nebraska.
Read on to see why Washington County is the best county, while Morrill County is probably in contention for being the worst county in Nebraska.
Summary: The Best Counties In Nebraska To Call Home For 2026
Living in Nebraska can vary from one part of the state to the next — who woulda thought?
The best counties in Nebraska are Washington County, Saunders County, Sarpy County, Cass County, Hamilton County, Loup County, Fillmore County, Stanton County, Arthur County, and Boone County.
But now you know the outstanding parts and the parts to avoid, and that’s why you came here to learn at the end of the day.
You are welcome.
Here’s a look at the worst counties in Nebraska according to the data:
- Morrill County
- Pawnee County
- Nemaha County
For more Nebraska reading, check out:
- Safest Places In Nebraska
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Nebraska
- Best Counties To Live In Nebraska
- Best Places To Buy A House In Nebraska
Detailed List Of The Best Counties In Nebraska
| Rank | County | Population | Median Income | Median Home Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington County | 21,106 | $94,396 | $392,211 |
| 2 | Saunders County | 23,048 | $94,066 | $347,169 |
| 3 | Sarpy County | 197,389 | $103,321 | $354,031 |
| 4 | Cass County | 27,161 | $91,836 | $306,528 |
| 5 | Hamilton County | 9,464 | $83,994 | $294,647 |
| 6 | Loup County | 578 | $71,667 | $354,650 |
| 7 | Fillmore County | 5,541 | $76,295 | $178,086 |
| 8 | Stanton County | 5,796 | $80,687 | $263,903 |
| 9 | Arthur County | 484 | $76,250 | $215,428 |
| 10 | Boone County | 5,356 | $74,947 | $289,333 |
| 11 | Seward County | 17,641 | $82,444 | $308,419 |
| 12 | Logan County | 773 | $74,271 | $184,149 |
| 13 | Cedar County | 8,315 | $73,578 | $236,620 |
| 14 | Howard County | 6,534 | $76,767 | $277,293 |
| 15 | Kearney County | 6,713 | $78,631 | $251,430 |
| 16 | Pierce County | 7,325 | $72,357 | $241,737 |
| 17 | York County | 14,286 | $77,757 | $228,854 |
| 18 | Otoe County | 16,241 | $82,188 | $241,495 |
| 19 | Hayes County | 843 | $69,250 | $303,183 |
| 20 | Mcpherson County | 475 | $58,684 | $388,592 |
| 21 | Wheeler County | 847 | $70,250 | $242,830 |
| 22 | Perkins County | 2,821 | $72,778 | $219,874 |
| 23 | Butler County | 8,424 | $79,268 | $240,325 |
| 24 | Polk County | 5,225 | $69,768 | $210,972 |
| 25 | Merrick County | 7,724 | $68,354 | $224,849 |
| 26 | Keya Paha County | 822 | $64,000 | $317,827 |
| 27 | Clay County | 6,095 | $78,986 | $177,248 |
| 28 | Cherry County | 5,498 | $66,270 | $220,948 |
| 29 | Blaine County | 422 | $69,583 | $135,468 |
| 30 | Gosper County | 2,040 | $77,500 | $317,826 |
| 31 | Valley County | 4,066 | $61,852 | $194,679 |
| 32 | Buffalo County | 50,579 | $75,911 | $295,745 |
| 33 | Garfield County | 1,718 | $62,804 | $230,637 |
| 34 | Cuming County | 8,975 | $71,104 | $260,269 |
| 35 | Phelps County | 9,009 | $68,919 | $218,487 |
| 36 | Gage County | 21,629 | $67,247 | $196,237 |
| 37 | Holt County | 10,102 | $68,513 | $175,143 |
| 38 | Colfax County | 10,641 | $82,530 | $230,930 |
| 39 | Webster County | 3,360 | $64,347 | $138,512 |
| 40 | Harlan County | 2,847 | $70,625 | $163,166 |
| 41 | Lancaster County | 326,696 | $74,793 | $299,034 |
| 42 | Custer County | 10,518 | $67,906 | $171,035 |
| 43 | Thayer County | 4,901 | $66,213 | $148,829 |
| 44 | Thomas County | 564 | $65,000 | $188,754 |
| 45 | Nuckolls County | 4,087 | $73,976 | $116,506 |
| 46 | Dundy County | 1,736 | $58,922 | $203,143 |
| 47 | Platte County | 34,716 | $71,552 | $276,479 |
| 48 | Banner County | 742 | $78,839 | $418,752 |
| 49 | Antelope County | 6,305 | $66,105 | $220,374 |
| 50 | Box Butte County | 10,714 | $68,892 | $171,749 |
| 51 | Sherman County | 2,967 | $63,578 | $191,717 |
| 52 | Wayne County | 9,844 | $66,215 | $245,626 |
| 53 | Douglas County | 590,736 | $80,391 | $293,765 |
| 54 | Adams County | 31,052 | $68,365 | $209,004 |
| 55 | Dodge County | 37,351 | $74,329 | $242,266 |
| 56 | Boyd County | 1,688 | $67,045 | $147,860 |
| 57 | Sioux County | 1,171 | $53,929 | $332,494 |
| 58 | Deuel County | 1,847 | $70,096 | $181,579 |
| 59 | Rock County | 1,319 | $58,125 | $147,434 |
| 60 | Dixon County | 5,545 | $72,454 | $194,094 |
| 61 | Frontier County | 2,569 | $70,132 | $173,926 |
| 62 | Chase County | 3,671 | $68,173 | $216,948 |
| 63 | Saline County | 14,650 | $79,910 | $215,665 |
| 64 | Greeley County | 2,202 | $63,929 | $210,255 |
| 65 | Lincoln County | 33,802 | $65,148 | $216,739 |
| 66 | Franklin County | 2,846 | $60,195 | $150,183 |
| 67 | Keith County | 8,219 | $60,645 | $233,672 |
| 68 | Jefferson County | 7,161 | $59,044 | $138,810 |
| 69 | Grant County | 626 | $70,147 | $158,413 |
| 70 | Dawson County | 24,202 | $69,880 | $202,736 |
| 71 | Johnson County | 5,261 | $57,632 | $204,612 |
| 72 | Dawes County | 8,140 | $56,280 | $186,104 |
| 73 | Burt County | 6,740 | $63,685 | $185,915 |
| 74 | Hitchcock County | 2,569 | $51,567 | $152,766 |
| 75 | Red Willow County | 10,557 | $63,697 | $172,068 |
| 76 | Furnas County | 4,568 | $61,048 | $128,195 |
| 77 | Madison County | 35,532 | $63,128 | $251,799 |
| 78 | Dakota County | 21,354 | $70,329 | $238,514 |
| 79 | Richardson County | 7,751 | $60,108 | $115,210 |
| 80 | Knox County | 8,363 | $64,636 | $194,779 |
| 81 | Hooker County | 647 | $49,464 | $133,472 |
| 82 | Nance County | 3,324 | $65,179 | $170,683 |
| 83 | Kimball County | 3,248 | $56,712 | $161,253 |
| 84 | Brown County | 2,869 | $54,676 | $144,449 |
| 85 | Hall County | 62,536 | $69,251 | $255,439 |
| 86 | Cheyenne County | 9,533 | $60,348 | $167,180 |
| 87 | Thurston County | 6,627 | $69,177 | $159,044 |
| 88 | Scotts Bluff County | 35,843 | $63,614 | $191,211 |
| 89 | Sheridan County | 5,014 | $60,121 | $136,484 |
| 90 | Garden County | 1,761 | $41,882 | $193,001 |
| 91 | Nemaha County | 7,046 | $60,924 | $174,282 |
| 92 | Pawnee County | 2,530 | $62,188 | $160,444 |
| 93 | Morrill County | 4,534 | $58,500 | $151,928 |