The 10 Best Small Towns In Nebraska For 2025


The best small towns in Nebraska are Hickman and Waverly for 2025 based on Saturday Night Science.

By: Chris Kolmar | About HomeSnacks
Last Updated: October 1, 2025

You’ve seen these lists before. Best places to live in Nebraska. Best sururbs in Nebraska. Best counties in Nebraska.

Etc., etc., etc.

But they all focus on major cities and towns in the Cornhusker State, and no one pays attention to the little guy.

Well, that’s all about to change as we put together a list of the superb small towns in Nebraska based on numbers–not opinions or hearsay.

We’ll dive right into our methodology in the next section, but first, we thought you might want to know which places in Nebraska ranked the best based on Saturday Night Science.

Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table

The 15 Best Small Towns To Live In Nebraska For 2025

  1. Hickman
  2. Waverly
  3. Ceresco
  4. Milford
  5. Arlington
  6. Bennington
  7. Louisville
  8. Bennet
  9. Hartington
  10. Albion
  11. Battle Creek
  12. Ashland
  13. Minden
  14. Eagle
  15. Woodland Park

Best Small Towns To Live In Nebraska Map

What’s the best small town in Nebraska? Hickman is the best small town in Nebraska based on the most recent Census data. If you live in one of these small towns like Hickman, chances are, you’re not surprised. After all, you know how great you have it.

But for the rest of you–keep reading, and we’ll get to just why these small towns made our list.

For more reading on the Cornhusker State check out:

The 15 Best Small Towns In Nebraska For 2025

1. Hickman

Hickman, NE

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 2,834
Median Income: $104,219 (3rd Best)
Median Home Value: $294,200 (3rd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.3%

2. Waverly

Waverly, NE

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 4,363
Median Income: $110,000 (1st Best)
Median Home Value: $290,000 (4th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%

3. Ceresco

Ceresco, NE

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 1,355
Median Income: $103,906 (4th Best)
Median Home Value: $186,300 (21st Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.0%

4. Milford

Milford, NE

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 2,656
Median Income: $80,997 (17th Best)
Median Home Value: $225,200 (10th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.4%

5. Arlington

Arlington, NE

Source: Wikipedia User John Phelan | CC BY 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 1,437
Median Income: $95,278 (9th Best)
Median Home Value: $222,500 (11th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.6%

6. Bennington

Bennington, NE

Source: Flickr User cpoke | CC BY 2.0
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 2,417
Median Income: $98,375 (6th Best)
Median Home Value: $337,600 (2nd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.7%

7. Louisville

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 1,393
Median Income: $97,115 (7th Best)
Median Home Value: $204,700 (15th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.0%

8. Bennet

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 1,174
Median Income: $100,417 (5th Best)
Median Home Value: $252,400 (6th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.8%

9. Hartington

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 1,736
Median Income: $78,304 (24th Best)
Median Home Value: $169,000 (31st Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.1%

10. Albion

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 1,733
Median Income: $70,761 (36th Best)
Median Home Value: $210,800 (13th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.9%

11. Battle Creek

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 1,478
Median Income: $93,750 (10th Best)
Median Home Value: $188,100 (19th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%

12. Ashland

Ashland, NE

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 3,083
Median Income: $80,948 (18th Best)
Median Home Value: $229,100 (8th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.9%

13. Minden

Minden, NE

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 3,020
Median Income: $64,846 (48th Best)
Median Home Value: $188,100 (19th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.8%

14. Eagle

Overall SnackAbility

/10

Population: 1,089
Median Income: $76,500 (27th Best)
Median Home Value: $161,800 (35th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.5%

15. Woodland Park

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 1,648
Median Income: $77,880 (25th Best)
Median Home Value: $161,500 (36th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%

Best States In America

Methodology: How We Determined The Coolest Towns In Nebraska

We threw a lot of criteria at this report to get the best, most complete results of the best small towns in Nebraska possible.

Using the most recent data from the Census’s 2019-2023 American Community Survey, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Saturday Night Science, this is the criteria we used:

  • Population Density (Higher is better)
  • Lowest Unemployment Rates
  • Housing costs (Higher is better. More demand.)
  • Adjusted Median Income (Higher is better)
  • Highly Educated Adults (Higher is better)
  • Insurance Rates (Higher is better)
  • Commute Times (Lower is better)

We looked at places with populations lower than 5,000 people and greater than 1,000, of which there were many – 83 to be exact.

We then ranked each place in each category with scores from 1 to 83, averaged them out, and the lowest scores went to our Best Small Towns in Nebraska. Top of that list — Hickman.

This is our tenth time ranking the best small places to live in Nebraska.

Summary: Science Can Tackle Any Issue, Even Small Ones

We said it once, and we’ll say it again — this list: it’s just science. We did the research, crunched the numbers, and it turns out these 15 small towns in Nebraska are the best in which to live.

And who can argue with that?

The best small towns in Nebraska are Hickman, Waverly, Ceresco, Milford, Arlington, Bennington, Louisville, Bennet, Hartington, and Albion.

If you’re curious, here are the worst small towns in Nebraska:

  1. Fullerton
  2. Wymore
  3. Plainview

For more Nebraska reading, check out:

Best Small Towns In Nebraska

Rank City Population Median Income Median Home Value Unemployment Rate
1 Hickman, NE 2,834 $104,219 0.3%
2 Waverly, NE 4,363 $110,000 0.0%
3 Ceresco, NE 1,355 $103,906 2.0%
4 Milford, NE 2,656 $80,997 0.4%
5 Arlington, NE 1,437 $95,278 0.6%
6 Bennington, NE 2,417 $98,375 2.7%
7 Louisville, NE 1,393 $97,115 2.0%
8 Bennet, NE 1,174 $100,417 1.8%
9 Hartington, NE 1,736 $78,304 1.1%
10 Albion, NE 1,733 $70,761 1.9%
11 Battle Creek, NE 1,478 $93,750 0.0%
12 Ashland, NE 3,083 $80,948 4.9%
13 Minden, NE 3,020 $64,846 1.8%
14 Eagle, NE 1,089 $76,500 3.5%
15 Woodland Park, NE 1,648 $77,880 0.0%
16 David City, NE 3,013 $66,585 0.1%
17 Friend, NE 1,085 $84,861 0.9%
18 Springfield, NE 1,620 $92,153 4.2%
19 Valley, NE 3,113 $106,750 2.5%
20 Yutan, NE 1,535 $89,531 2.5%
21 St. Paul, NE 2,574 $58,493 1.1%
22 Grant, NE 1,392 $70,000 0.7%
23 Aurora, NE 4,665 $71,051 4.2%
24 Wahoo, NE 4,885 $81,544 3.5%
25 Geneva, NE 2,214 $79,750 0.5%
26 Wilber, NE 2,178 $80,227 1.6%
27 Pierce, NE 1,986 $64,167 1.4%
28 Alma, NE 1,176 $68,333 0.4%
29 Fort Calhoun, NE 1,246 $96,071 0.9%
30 Valentine, NE 2,632 $53,438 0.0%
31 Cambridge, NE 1,036 $60,066 0.0%
32 Gothenburg, NE 3,436 $79,519 2.3%
33 Pender, NE 1,262 $67,419 2.4%
34 Sutton, NE 1,349 $80,714 0.6%
35 Utica, NE 1,092 $81,797 1.2%
36 West Point, NE 3,479 $63,977 0.7%
37 Syracuse, NE 1,964 $70,625 2.1%
38 Wisner, NE 1,436 $66,875 0.9%
39 Hooper, NE 1,078 $75,800 2.4%
40 Neligh, NE 1,636 $60,000 3.2%
41 North Bend, NE 1,225 $84,345 2.2%
42 Imperial, NE 2,182 $71,667 1.8%
43 Stanton, NE 1,824 $73,571 1.3%
44 Atkinson, NE 1,433 $72,857 5.4%
45 Gibbon, NE 1,643 $69,762 4.5%
46 Oakland, NE 1,572 $66,202 0.0%
47 Central City, NE 3,039 $62,012 0.0%
48 Ord, NE 2,186 $53,274 0.6%
49 Dakota City, NE 2,980 $80,433 6.2%
50 Elm Creek, NE 1,146 $75,625 2.1%
51 Stromsburg, NE 1,007 $61,182 1.5%
52 O’neill, NE 3,574 $66,458 0.0%
53 Sutherland, NE 1,224 $73,750 2.6%
54 Ainsworth, NE 1,632 $51,667 1.3%
55 Hebron, NE 1,641 $61,207 1.8%
56 Weeping Water, NE 1,244 $67,083 8.7%
57 Arapahoe, NE 1,010 $63,173 0.0%
58 Gordon, NE 1,646 $58,906 1.5%
59 Cairo, NE 1,117 $55,179 1.9%
60 Burwell, NE 1,020 $64,821 3.3%
61 Superior, NE 1,833 $61,852 1.7%
62 Wakefield, NE 1,288 $57,500 4.2%
63 Broken Bow, NE 3,524 $56,438 5.8%
64 Bayard, NE 1,509 $61,818 2.5%
65 Wood River, NE 1,426 $76,591 5.2%
66 Kimball, NE 2,153 $57,153 0.0%
67 Ogallala, NE 4,800 $55,481 2.6%
68 Harvard, NE 1,001 $67,813 0.9%
69 Ravenna, NE 1,352 $64,844 2.1%
70 Fairbury, NE 3,905 $51,782 1.2%
71 Shelton, NE 1,354 $75,781 6.4%
72 Madison, NE 2,074 $56,932 4.4%
73 Cozad, NE 3,944 $50,161 1.1%
74 Bridgeport, NE 1,403 $59,643 8.9%
75 Mitchell, NE 1,804 $50,250 4.9%
76 Creighton, NE 1,199 $53,167 2.2%
77 Falls City, NE 4,099 $45,750 6.5%
78 Tecumseh, NE 1,844 $46,127 3.4%
79 Auburn, NE 3,468 $58,674 3.8%
80 Tekamah, NE 1,691 $54,139 2.8%
81 Plainview, NE 1,241 $56,100 8.4%
82 Wymore, NE 1,287 $56,051 3.0%
83 Fullerton, NE 1,463 $54,375 4.3%
About Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks.

He believes the key to finding the right place to live comes down to looking at the data, reading about things to do, and, most importantly, checking it out yourself before you move.

If you've been looking for a place to live in the past several years, you've probably stumbled upon his writing already.

You can find out more about him on LinkedIn or his website.

 Best Small Towns, Rankings