The 10 Best Small Towns In Nebraska For 2022


We used science and data to determine which small towns in Nebraska are the best of the best.

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You've seen these lists before: Best places to live in Nebraska, Most Beautiful Downtowns, etc., etc. But all of them 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 best 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 just want to know which places in Nebraska ranked the based--you know, based on science.

Before we get to the top 15, here's a look at the 10 Best Small Towns To Live in Nebraska for 2022.

The 10 Best Small Towns To Live In Nebraska For 2022

  1. Hickman
  2. Bennet
  3. Waverly
  4. Wahoo
  5. Aurora
  6. Louisville
  7. Syracuse
  8. Bennington
  9. Springfield
  10. Geneva

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 2022

1. Hickman

Hickman, NE

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 2,432
Median Income: $100,250 (1st Best)
Median Home Value: $216,800 (3rd Best)
More on Hickman: Photos | Data | Homes For Sale

2. Bennet

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 1,088
Median Income: $83,125 (3rd Best)
Median Home Value: $180,400 (5th Best)
More on Bennet: Data | Homes For Sale

3. Waverly

Waverly, NE

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 3,941
Median Income: $81,818 (4th Best)
Median Home Value: $207,400 (4th Best)
More on Waverly: Photos | Data | Homes For Sale

4. Wahoo

Wahoo, NE

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

8.5
/10

Population: 4,520
Median Income: $62,689 (29th Best)
Median Home Value: $157,800 (12th Best)
More on Wahoo: Photos | Data | Homes For Sale

5. Aurora

Aurora, NE

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 4,523
Median Income: $65,538 (23rd Best)
Median Home Value: $157,600 (13th Best)
More on Aurora: Photos | Data | Homes For Sale

6. Louisville

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 1,425
Median Income: $80,650 (7th Best)
Median Home Value: $161,000 (10th Best)
More on Louisville: Data | Homes For Sale

7. Syracuse

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 2,043
Median Income: $60,058 (39th Best)
Median Home Value: $141,900 (23rd Best)
More on Syracuse: Data | Homes For Sale

8. Bennington

Bennington, NE

Source: Flickr User cpoke | CC BY 2.0
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 2,075
Median Income: $92,738 (2nd Best)
Median Home Value: $235,600 (2nd Best)
More on Bennington: Photos | Data | Homes For Sale

9. Springfield

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 1,582
Median Income: $75,379 (9th Best)
Median Home Value: $170,100 (8th Best)
More on Springfield: Data | Homes For Sale

10. Geneva

Geneva, NE

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 1,955
Median Income: $72,273 (15th Best)
Median Home Value: $100,600 (55th Best)
More on Geneva: Photos | Data | Homes For Sale

11. Pierce

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 1,973
Median Income: $51,926 (53rd Best)
Median Home Value: $116,300 (38th Best)
More on Pierce: Data | Homes For Sale

12. Wilber

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 2,086
Median Income: $67,454 (19th Best)
Median Home Value: $131,700 (29th Best)
More on Wilber: Data | Homes For Sale

13. Utica

Overall SnackAbility

/10

Population: 1,069
Median Income: $62,438 (30th Best)
Median Home Value: $148,100 (17th Best)
More on Utica:  | Homes For Sale

14. Pender

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 1,216
Median Income: $73,750 (10th Best)
Median Home Value: $101,800 (53rd Best)
More on Pender: Data | Homes For Sale

15. Ceresco

Ceresco, NE

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 1,343
Median Income: $81,154 (5th Best)
Median Home Value: $144,600 (20th Best)
More on Ceresco: Photos | Data | Homes For Sale

Methodology: How We Determined The Coolest Towns In Nebraska

We threw a lot of criteria at this one in order to get the best, most complete results possible. Using the most recent data from the Census's 2016-2020 American Community Survey and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 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)
Best States In America

We looked at places with populations lower than 5,000 people and greater than 1,000, of which, there were a lot - 90 to be exact.

We then ranked each place in each category with scores from 1 to 90, averaged them out, and the lowest scores went to our Best Small Towns in Nebraska. Top of that list -- Hickman. You can download the data here.

Keep reading to find out more about our top 15 best small towns 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, we 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?

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

  1. Wymore
  2. Kimball
  3. Plainview

For more Nebraska reading, check out:

Detailed List Of The Best Small Towns In Nebraska

Rank City Population Median Income Median Home Value
1 Hickman, NE 2,432 $100,250.0 $216,800.0
2 Bennet, NE 1,088 $83,125.0 $180,400.0
3 Waverly, NE 3,941 $81,818.0 $207,400.0
4 Wahoo, NE 4,520 $62,689.0 $157,800.0
5 Aurora, NE 4,523 $65,538.0 $157,600.0
6 Louisville, NE 1,425 $80,650.0 $161,000.0
7 Syracuse, NE 2,043 $60,058.0 $141,900.0
8 Bennington, NE 2,075 $92,738.0 $235,600.0
9 Springfield, NE 1,582 $75,379.0 $170,100.0
10 Geneva, NE 1,955 $72,273.0 $100,600.0
11 Pierce, NE 1,973 $51,926.0 $116,300.0
12 Wilber, NE 2,086 $67,454.0 $131,700.0
13 Utica, NE 1,069 $62,438.0 $148,100.0
14 Pender, NE 1,216 $73,750.0 $101,800.0
15 Ceresco, NE 1,343 $81,154.0 $144,600.0
16 Valentine, NE 2,768 $47,609.0 $135,800.0
17 Arlington, NE 1,657 $76,806.0 $171,600.0
18 Grant, NE 1,393 $59,271.0 $108,900.0
19 O'neill, NE 3,594 $60,863.0 $124,300.0
20 Wakefield, NE 1,375 $62,857.0 $103,900.0
21 Ashland, NE 2,834 $65,861.0 $173,200.0
22 Albion, NE 1,511 $62,885.0 $134,700.0
23 Milford, NE 2,417 $60,329.0 $166,000.0
24 Sutherland, NE 1,597 $80,859.0 $119,300.0
25 Doniphan, NE 1,010 $72,500.0 $159,800.0
26 David City, NE 2,824 $51,090.0 $120,300.0
27 Atkinson, NE 1,403 $56,111.0 $114,800.0
28 Battle Creek, NE 1,503 $73,056.0 $145,900.0
29 Alma, NE 1,410 $41,875.0 $137,300.0
30 Minden, NE 2,906 $50,739.0 $149,700.0
31 Hartington, NE 1,522 $60,682.0 $110,900.0
32 West Point, NE 3,282 $52,788.0 $126,900.0
33 Cairo, NE 1,123 $57,604.0 $142,600.0
34 Sutton, NE 1,368 $65,750.0 $113,400.0
35 Burwell, NE 1,215 $46,731.0 $96,700.0
36 Valley, NE 2,834 $62,181.0 $278,000.0
37 Friend, NE 1,173 $67,750.0 $148,800.0
38 St. Paul, NE 2,638 $49,688.0 $142,300.0
39 Dakota City, NE 2,249 $73,456.0 $118,500.0
40 Ainsworth, NE 1,655 $41,000.0 $83,000.0
41 Randolph, NE 1,084 $59,018.0 $95,000.0
42 Stromsburg, NE 1,028 $52,000.0 $105,700.0
43 Cambridge, NE 1,285 $60,938.0 $75,900.0
44 Hebron, NE 1,654 $51,594.0 $86,200.0
45 Yutan, NE 1,075 $64,737.0 $141,800.0
46 Stanton, NE 1,847 $62,917.0 $104,000.0
47 Elm Creek, NE 1,136 $67,713.0 $119,600.0
48 Neligh, NE 1,586 $50,625.0 $82,700.0
49 Ord, NE 2,112 $49,639.0 $93,900.0
50 North Bend, NE 1,453 $73,333.0 $114,600.0
51 Creighton, NE 1,253 $47,708.0 $98,500.0
52 Wisner, NE 1,364 $51,471.0 $104,300.0
53 Imperial, NE 2,163 $59,917.0 $147,000.0
54 Waterloo, NE 1,066 $64,659.0 $153,700.0
55 Broken Bow, NE 3,503 $44,000.0 $114,500.0
56 Woodland Park, NE 1,418 $54,435.0 $119,600.0
57 Laurel, NE 1,027 $51,250.0 $96,700.0
58 Gothenburg, NE 3,469 $66,096.0 $107,600.0
59 Kenesaw, NE 1,088 $71,435.0 $116,200.0
60 Arapahoe, NE 1,242 $60,341.0 $79,600.0
61 Gibbon, NE 1,971 $62,095.0 $121,500.0
62 Bayard, NE 1,319 $46,875.0 $88,800.0
63 Mitchell, NE 1,907 $46,411.0 $97,200.0
64 Weeping Water, NE 1,011 $55,859.0 $140,800.0
65 Central City, NE 2,906 $49,297.0 $114,900.0
66 Auburn, NE 3,306 $52,721.0 $84,200.0
67 Cozad, NE 3,776 $47,786.0 $89,100.0
68 Madison, NE 2,239 $50,476.0 $92,200.0
69 Shelton, NE 1,241 $49,871.0 $101,800.0
70 Superior, NE 1,826 $41,714.0 $69,000.0
71 Ravenna, NE 1,465 $55,536.0 $95,000.0
72 Crawford, NE 1,020 $46,389.0 $63,600.0
73 Tecumseh, NE 1,818 $37,832.0 $90,000.0
74 Bridgeport, NE 1,414 $45,833.0 $88,600.0
75 Tilden, NE 1,079 $51,484.0 $75,800.0
76 Fairbury, NE 3,657 $42,134.0 $73,300.0
77 Ogallala, NE 4,509 $45,508.0 $108,100.0
78 Gordon, NE 1,764 $42,000.0 $66,400.0
79 Falls City, NE 4,139 $36,014.0 $72,700.0
80 Loup City, NE 1,004 $36,280.0 $81,200.0
81 Red Cloud, NE 1,091 $43,158.0 $49,200.0
82 Wood River, NE 1,503 $58,611.0 $95,300.0
83 Oakland, NE 1,575 $51,276.0 $94,700.0
84 Harvard, NE 1,184 $61,435.0 $78,800.0
85 Terrytown, NE 1,013 $40,667.0 $81,400.0
86 Tekamah, NE 1,727 $52,581.0 $96,300.0
87 Fullerton, NE 1,569 $51,174.0 $72,500.0
88 Plainview, NE 1,440 $46,542.0 $80,300.0
89 Kimball, NE 2,276 $39,167.0 $73,900.0
90 Wymore, NE 1,385 $45,519.0 $46,400.0
Download The Entire Nebraska Ranking Data

This article is an opinion based on facts and is meant as infotainment. This is our ninth time ranking the best small places to live in Nebraska.

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