The 10 Worst Places To Live In Nebraska For 2021

The 10 Worst Places To Live In Nebraska For 2021

Greece’s Crete provides the home of the mythical minotaur. What about the Nebraska version? Nothing quite as impressive. In fact, the name was chosen in part because it fit an alphabetical pattern for towns along a major railroad line. Though it might be lacking in man-bull hybrids, the town does have some distinctions — for instance, it serves as home for Doane University. So that’s something.

The community lands on this list mostly as a result of its poverty rate, which runs at 26.1%. This comes amid a 5.3% unemployment rate and a $45,717 median income. Bad schools also afflict the community. Most local institutions score worse than a 6/10 on Great Schools.

No, Grand Island isn’t an island. Unless you consider a community of 51,147 people in the middle of a largely rural state an island of city in a sea of prairie. Otherwise, like the rest of Nebraska, Grand Island is landlocked.

That’s not why it ends up on this list, though. It earns its dubious distinction as the number 2 worst spot in Nebraska because of questionable housing and an unimpressive school system. Crime presents an issue as well, with a crime rate 20% higher than the national average.

Still, Grand Island does draw some positive notice as well. Centrally located in the state, it hosts the Nebraska State Fair each year.

Scottsbluff is the 3rd most dangerous place in Nebraska. Here, you have a 1 in 34.0 chance of being the victim of a property crime every year. Can you imagine? In a small city in the middle of Nebraska, and you have to deal with stupid criminal activity.

Income levels are the 2nd lowest in the state, and the unemployment rate is the highest in Nebraska.

If you want to do anything ‘fun’, you have to drive 90 miles to Cheyenne.

Plattsmouth ranks as the 4th worst place to live in Nebraska for 2021, let’s take a look at why.

The crime novelist Raymond Chandler grew up in Plattsmouth. If it’s good enough for author of books like The Big Sleep and the creator of private detective Philip Marlowe, it should be good enough for anyone, right? Maybe not.

Plattsmouth, located in the eastern part of the state, about a half hour south of Omaha, suffers from doubtful housing and a lack of diversity. In addition, the local schools fall short of expectations. None score better than 5/10 on Great Schools.

Located near the Missouri River and the Iowa border, Plattsmouth does have its draws. This includes the Schilling Wildlife Management Area.

Omaha is the biggest city in Nebraska. And like any major urban area, it struggles with its share of challenges. Top among these: safety. Omaha lands on this list mainly as a result of its high crime rate, which tops the national average by more than 70%.

This overwhelms some of the more positive aspects of life in Omaha. The city’s economy hums along quite nicely, with a 4.3% unemployment rate and a $60,092 median income. Housing, education, and affordability are all inviting as well. Meanwhile, as a city, you have plenty of amenities, including the Joslyn Art Museum and the Durham Museum.

how to get attention. Located in the east-central part of the state, the town features Carhenge, a tourist draw that uses automobiles to recreate the famous British landmark of Stonehenge. Sure, why not?

Unfortunately, you might need a little druidical magic to get through a typical day in town. The economy is sluggish, with an elevated unemployment rate and a 15.2% poverty rate. Housing in town is weak as well. The education system also disappoints, with the local schools topping out at a 3/10 on Great Schools.

It ranks as the 6th worst place to live in Nebraska for 2021.

Lexington once provided a stop for the Pony Express. Nowadays, it still acts as a convenient stopover, located just off I-80 in the south-central part of the state.

The town sports an unimpressive economy, with a 5.5% unemployment rate and $52,885 median income. This results in a poverty rate of 14.1%. The local school system also leaves a lot to be desired. None of town’s public institutions scores better than a 4/10 on great schools.

There are some bright spots to life in Lexington. This includes the Heartland Museum of Military Vehicles.

Fremont gets its name from famed explorer, John C. Frémont, who also served as the first Republican nominee for president in the 1850s. If only life in town lived up to that exciting legacy. Instead, locals are stuck with a sluggish economy, inadequate housing, and an substandard school system. (Though, to be fair, it does house one of the country’s biggest manufacturers of Spam…so there is some excitement.)

Aside from pressed-meat production, the economy lacks vigor. It leaves 14.0% of the population below the poverty line. As for the schools, none has a rating higher than 3/10 on Great Schools.

In most cases, a good economy will keep a town off these worst lists. Sometimes, though, financial stability isn’t enough. That’s the case with North Platte, which boasts a relatively strong economic situation. However, housing and safety concerns leave the community as the number 9 worst spot in Nebraska.

Crime is the major issue for North Platte. The local crime rate tracks 50% above the national average.

Situated along I-80 in the south-central section of the state, North Platte has its draws. This includes Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historical Park Museum and Cody Park Railroad Museum. It also hosts the annual Miss Nebraska contest.

At least in Beatrice you can go to the movies or bowling if you want to get out of the barn yard for an evening. However, don’t forget to lock your door when you’re out and about. Beatrice has the 19th highest crime ranking in the state.

Every year that you’re in Beatrice city limits, you have a 1 in 63.4 chance of being the victim of a property crime. That’s a lot of stolen cell phones, laptops and tractor tires. There were also 22 violent crimes here in 2021. That means rapes and attacks.

For a small city in Nebraska, that’s a lot.

Beatrice also has a very low rated public school system when you consider the amount of money spent on students, and the number of students per class.

Income levels are also far below average in Beatrice, which is about 45 minutes south of Lincoln.