So, you’re curious about living in Nebraska? Well, you’ve come to the right place!
The expert movers, travelers, and worldwide locals that make up the team at Relocalate.com are here to help.
We’ve compiled the ultimate guides to answer the most common questions people just like you have about living in the great state of Nebraska.
Dive deep into the topics you’re interested in to make sure your new home in Nebraska matches what you’re looking for.
We’ll explore whether Nebraska is a good place for YOU to live, and we’ll highlight some of the best cities for you to visit, explore, and ultimately call home.
Pros and Cons of Living in Nebraska
You’ve heard it before, and it’s true: no place is perfect. What matters is how good of a fit it is for you.
Relocalate.com is here to help you decide whether Nebraska is the best place for YOU to live.
Here are some reasons to love living in Nebraska:
- Affordable housing.
- Low crime rates.
- Low cost of living.
And, on the flip side, here are some of the downsides of living in Nebraska:
- Low job growth rate.
- High unemployment rate (but these are slowly improving).
- While the winters may be harsh at times, there’s still plenty to do in Omaha year round!
Read More: Is Nebraska a Good Place to Live?
Best Place to Live in Nebraska
So, you’ve got your heart set on living in Nebraska? Well, the decision making doesn’t end there. You’ve still got to decide where to live in Nebraska!
In some other articles, we’ll dive deeper into some of the best places to live in Nebraska.
Our experts have considered a whole bunch of different criteria to select the top locations, including:
- The best places to live for families, retirees, singles, young adults, outdoor lovers, foodies, and more.
- The safest places to live.
- The cheapest places to live.
- The best schools.
- The best job markets.
- The best housing markets.
- And so much more.
Just want a quick list? No worries, here are some of the best cities to live in Nebraska:
- Chadron
- Lincoln
- Norfolk
- Omaha
Read More: Best Places to Live in Nebraska
Checklist for Moving to Nebraska
So now you’re preparing for your big move to Nebraska. Maybe you’ve even started packing!
As you probably already know, there are a lot of things to take care of when you’re moving. Both in your current state and once you get to Nebraska.
Here are some of the major things you’ll want to take care of when you move to Nebraska:
- Updating your address with USPS.
- Getting your Nebraska driver’s license.
- Transferring your vehicle titles and registrations to Nebraska
- Getting Nebraska car insurance.
- Signing up for health insurance in Nebraska and finding new doctors, dentists, and local hospitals.
- Updating/changing other insurance policies you may need (homeowner’s insurance, renter’s insurance, pet insurance, motorcycle insurance, etc.)
- Registering to vote in your district in Nebraska.
- Updating your address with your banks, credit cards, subscription services, loans, investments, phone plans, and bill pay.
- Enrolling your kids in their new school district.
- Licensing your pets and finding a new vet.
- Setting up your utilities for your new home.
- Preparing to file state taxes for Nebraska and your previous home state.
Visit your Nebraska Moving Checklist for a detailed guide on all of the above.
Read More: Moving to Nebraska Checklist
While we’re at it, let’s cover some high-level questions and fun facts about Nebraska.
Things to Know About Living in Nebraska
As you’re preparing for your move or getting settled into your new home in Nebraska, here are some things to know about living there.
Cost of Living in Nebraska
One thing to consider when moving to a new state is the relative cost of living.
Nebraska ranks 17th on the Cost of Living Index with an overall rating of 93.9, meaning it’s a relatively inexpensive place to live.
Here is how Nebraska scores for the cost of living in each specific category:
- Groceries: 98.6
- Housing: 86.6
- Utilities: 88.9
- Transportation: 100.4
- Health: 99
- Miscellaneous: 96.8
The average cost of living in this index is scored at 100. The numbers above represent the percentage of the average. A number higher than 100 represents an above average cost of living, while a number lower than 100 represents a lower cost of living. A lower rank indicates a lower cost of living.
This data comes from the Cost of Living Index prepared by the Council for Economic Research (C2ER), which compiles data from cities across the country to rank and compare the differences in costs of living.
Sales Tax Rates in Nebraska
Sales tax is a way that state and local governments collect tax revenue from its residents and visitors.
These taxes are applied when you purchase something. It’ll show up on your receipt or bill. If you’ve recently moved to Nebraska from somewhere else, the new sales tax rates may surprise you.
On top of the state sales tax rates, local rates for certain counties and cities may apply and vary as well.
Nebraska’s state sales tax rate is higher than the national average at 5.5%, with an average local rate of [1.44% (the highest local sales tax rate is 2.5%). Across the state, the average sales tax rate is about 6.94%.
Check with the Nebraska tax office for the most current tax rates.
Real-Estate Property Tax Rates in Nebraska
If you own or plan to own real estate in Nebraska, you’ll want to think about the property tax rates when you move there.
Nebraska ranks 44th (from low to high) for its state property tax rate of 1.73%.
There may be additional property taxes on top of the rate stated here depending on your county, city, and school districts.
Check with the Nebraska tax office for the most current tax rates.
Nebraska’s Job Market & Economy
Another thing to think about when moving to Nebraska is the job market and economic indicators.
Overall, Nebraska ranks 36th for Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the United States.
The GDP measures the overall monetary value of all goods and services produced within a certain place over a period of time.
Its top 10 industries (ranked from largest to smallest by economic contribution to the state) are:
- Manufacturing
- Finance and insurance
- Real estate and rental and leasing
- Professional and business services
- Educational services, health care, and social assistance
- Transportation and warehousing
- Wholesale trade
- Retail trade
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Utilities
The top employer in Nebraska is the University of Nebraska.
Notable Destinations and Landmarks in Nebraska
Our Nebraska moving guide wouldn’t be complete without a brief mention of some of the most iconic destinations in the state.
When you get settled in, a road trip may just be in order.
One of the most iconic landmarks in Nebraska is Chimney Rock National Historic Site.
National Monuments that you can find in Nebraska include:
- Agate Fossil Beds National Monument
- Homestead National Monument
- Scotts Bluff National Monument
These destinations are all great places to visit when you get a chance.
Facts about Nebraska
Nebraska is the 37th state of the United States that lies in the midwest region. To its north is South Dakota, to its south is Kansas, to its east is Iowa, and to its west is Wyoming.
What is the capital of Nebraska?
The capital of Nebraska is Lincoln.
Lincoln is located in Lancaster County with a population of 258,379.
What is the population of Nebraska?
The population of Nebraska based on 2020 US Census data is 1,961,504.
What is the largest city in Nebraska?
The largest city in Nebraska is Omaha.
Omaha has a population of 468,262, and it is located in Douglas County.
What is the size of Nebraska?
Nebraska is 77,347 square miles, making it the 16th largest state in the U.S.
What is the state motto of Nebraska?
The state motto of Nebraska is: Equality before the law
What is the state bird of Nebraska?
The state bird of Nebraska is the Western meadowlark.
What is the state flower of Nebraska?
The state flower of Nebraska is the Goldenrod.
What is the state tree of Nebraska?
The state tree of Nebraska is the Eastern Cottonwood.
What is the minimum wage in the state of Nebraska?
The minimum wage in Nebraska is $9.00 per hour.
What is the median income in Nebraska?
The median annual household salary in Nebraska is $59,566.