These Are The 10 Most Successful Cities In Nebraska

Top 10 Most Successful Cities in Nebraska for 2026

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Success is often defined in various ways. Is it the balance in your bank account? The thrill of delivering a compelling presentation? Or perhaps something more abstract and subjective?

At Zippia, we prefer metrics that allow us to analyze and quantify success. Using data-driven insights, we’ve identified the 10 most successful cities in Nebraska for 2026. Here they are:

If you disagree with our list, keep reading to understand the methodology behind our findings.

For more insights about Nebraska, check out:

Methodology Behind the Rankings

Traditionally, success has been associated with financial metrics. While wealth plays a role, we believe a more holistic view encompasses various factors. Our analysis is based on data from the latest American Community Survey, reflecting trends from 2018 to 2022.

1. Gretna

Source: Wikipedia

Population: 5,416
Median Income: $69,713
Poverty Rate: 4.1%
Unemployment Rate: 3.5%

2. Papillion

Population: 21,100
Median Income: $74,111
Poverty Rate: 4.0%
Unemployment Rate: 4.4%

3. La Vista

Population: 17,125
Median Income: $55,836
Poverty Rate: 6.8%
Unemployment Rate: 4.2%

4. Seward

Population: 7,050
Median Income: $58,261
Poverty Rate: 9.6%
Unemployment Rate: 3.7%

5. Holdrege

Population: 5,506
Median Income: $45,227
Poverty Rate: 6.1%
Unemployment Rate: 1.4%

6. Gering

Population: 8,463
Median Income: $51,056
Poverty Rate: 7.7%
Unemployment Rate: 4.1%

7. Sidney

Population: 6,801
Median Income: $54,175
Poverty Rate: 13.9%
Unemployment Rate: 2.3%

8. Plattsmouth

Population: 6,473
Median Income: $50,893
Poverty Rate: 8.4%
Unemployment Rate: 4.0%

9. Blair

Population: 7,990
Median Income: $51,098
Poverty Rate: 14.0%
Unemployment Rate: 2.0%

10. York

Population: 7,878
Median Income: $48,622
Poverty Rate: 11.4%
Unemployment Rate: 2.5%

Understanding Success Metrics

If you’re questioning the validity of our ranking system, we acknowledge that the metrics may seem superficial. However, we believe our approach effectively highlights the cities achieving notable success. Congratulations to Gretna and all the other cities on our list. For those that didn’t make it this year, we wish you better luck in the future.

Complete List of Nebraska’s Most Successful Cities

Rank	City	Median Income	Poverty Rate	Unemployment Rate
1	Gretna	$69,713	4.1%	3.5%
2	Papillion	$74,111	4.0%	4.4%
3	La Vista	$55,836	6.8%	4.2%
4	Seward	$58,261	9.6%	3.7%
5	Holdrege	$45,227	6.1%	1.4%
6	Gering	$51,056	7.7%	4.1%
7	Sidney	$54,175	13.9%	2.3%
8	Plattsmouth	$50,893	8.4%	4.0%
9	Blair	$51,098	14.0%	2.0%
10	York	$48,622	11.4%	2.5%
11	Ralston	$49,119	7.2%	5.0%
12	Columbus	$51,261	8.2%	5.8%
13	Bellevue	$59,123	9.9%	7.9%
14	Fremont	$47,239	12.4%	6.0%
15	McCook	$41,560	9.5%	5.9%
16	Beatrice	$40,750	12.2%	5.2%
17	North Platte	$43,772	13.1%	5.4%
18	Lincoln	$49,794	16.7%	6.3%
19	Kearney	$48,433	17.5%	4.5%
20	Hastings	$46,840	12.4%	7.3%
21	Omaha	$48,751	15.4%	7.3%
22	Norfolk	$43,266	16.8%	4.4%
23	Alliance	$46,071	16.9%	5.3%
24	Grand Island	$46,527	15.5%	7.0%
25	Nebraska City	$44,838	14.1%	6.6%
26	Schuyler	$49,771	15.7%	10.7%
27	Chadron	$36,439	21.5%	3.1%
28	Lexington	$44,966	15.9%	8.5%
29	Wayne	$40,324	25.8%	6.4%
30	Scottsbluff	$37,813	16.5%	9.0%
31	Crete	$38,542	19.1%	7.2%
32	South Sioux City	$40,975	18.9%	9.3%

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Author

Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.

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