Best Counties in Nebraska — 2026 Rankings
93 of 93 counties scored across 12 dimensions
93
93 scored
59/100
composite score
81.7/100
29.6—81.7
lowest to highest
State Overview
Understanding County Scores in Nebraska
Nebraska Beats the National Livability Average
Nebraska's average composite score of 59.3 comfortably exceeds the national median of 50.0. All 93 counties report data, demonstrating a remarkably consistent standard of living across the entire state.
Superior Health Outcomes and Low Environmental Risk
The state shines in safety and wellness, posting an impressive risk score of 74.2 and a health score of 71.4. These figures reflect a landscape with minimal natural disaster threats and strong community health indicators compared to national peers.
High Tax Burdens Temper Economic Gains
A low tax score of 23.3 remains the state's primary headwind, indicating a significantly higher tax burden than many neighboring states. While a cost score of 60.5 indicates general affordability, the heavy tax structure places notable pressure on household budgets.
Rural Gems Lead the State Rankings
Loup County leads the state with an elite composite score of 81.7, driven by high marks for affordability and tax relative to its peers. Thomas and Nuckolls counties follow closely, both exceeding a 75.0 composite score thanks to exceptional cost ratings above 89.0.
A Stable Choice for Value-Oriented Families
Nebraska offers a high-quality, low-risk lifestyle for families who prioritize safety and community health over tax savings. With a solid 59.3 composite score, it suits those seeking rural stability and deep-rooted affordability in the American heartland.
All County Rankings in Nebraska
Search, sort, and filter all 93 ranked counties
Showing 1–25 of 93 counties
| Rank | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Loup County | 81.7 | 53.4 | 78.2 | 39.5 | 97.5 | 93.3 | 99.5 | 99.8 | N/A | 40 | 57.4 | 58 | |
| 2 | Thomas County | 78.9 | 32.1 | 89 | 73.3 | 97.5 | 74.3 | 95 | 99.9 | 86 | 37.2 | 44.7 | 44.3 | |
| 3 | Nuckolls County | 75.9 | 21.8 | 93.8 | 66.9 | 97.5 | 72.3 | 89.3 | 77.6 | 86 | 37.6 | 80 | 62.6 | |
| 4 | Wheeler County | 74.8 | 44.3 | 92.8 | 27.4 | 97.5 | 88.5 | 52.3 | 94.6 | 86 | 41.4 | 56.8 | 55.3 | |
| 5 | Dundy County | 73.1 | 51.3 | 89.2 | 28.9 | 90.9 | 61.9 | 73.8 | 97.8 | 86 | 35.5 | 29.7 | 52.2 | |
| 6 | Rock County | 71.8 | 36.8 | 88 | 31.6 | 97.5 | 76.8 | 71.2 | 99.3 | 8.9 | 38.8 | 48.1 | 56.7 | |
| 7 | Boone County | 71.2 | 36.9 | 71.3 | 69.7 | 90.8 | 85 | 72.2 | 56.7 | 86 | 44.9 | 58.8 | 55.9 | |
| 8 | Butler County | 70.4 | 26.9 | 62.8 | 86.2 | 92.3 | 85.2 | 85.8 | 75.6 | 36 | 43.1 | 67.1 | 65.3 | |
| 9 | Grant County | 69.6 | 57.8 | 55.9 | 64.4 | 97.5 | 78.7 | 49.1 | 99.8 | 86 | 43 | 58.5 | 43.5 | |
| 10 | Fillmore County | 69.4 | 29.2 | 77.1 | 79 | 97.5 | 84.9 | 50.1 | 79.9 | 45.2 | 46 | 76.9 | 60.4 | |
| 11 | Garfield County | 69.3 | 15.6 | 74.1 | 63.4 | 93.7 | 82.6 | 67.1 | 98.8 | 86 | 41 | 57.1 | 54 | |
| 12 | Harlan County | 69 | 28.3 | 77.8 | 67.8 | 90.2 | 71 | 70.3 | 68 | 86 | 43.4 | 73.2 | 56.3 | |
| 13 | Garden County | 68.6 | 26.6 | 87.6 | 7 | 97.5 | 56.5 | 74.6 | 97.2 | 86 | 35.4 | 49.3 | 37.9 | |
| 14 | McPherson County | 68.3 | 33.7 | 82.4 | 43.1 | 89.4 | 77.5 | 52.1 | 99.9 | N/A | 41 | 58.5 | 46.5 | |
| 15 | Polk County | 68.3 | 39.3 | 76.3 | 70.9 | 89 | 66.3 | 58.8 | 74.3 | 86 | 48.9 | 56.4 | 58.3 | |
| 16 | Franklin County | 68.2 | 29 | 92.3 | 32.3 | 90.6 | 58.1 | 70 | 67.8 | 86 | 38.5 | 60.1 | 57.8 | |
| 17 | Gosper County | 67.9 | 26.1 | 64.7 | 82.8 | 93.7 | 66 | 71.2 | 90.2 | 86 | 46 | 66.5 | 52.2 | |
| 18 | Logan County | 67.9 | 37.8 | 58.2 | 70.5 | 97.5 | 85.5 | 47.2 | 99.8 | 86 | 37.2 | 57.7 | 47.8 | |
| 19 | Stanton County | 67.9 | 20.6 | 46.8 | 81.8 | 94 | 89.9 | 86.8 | 83.8 | 43.9 | 45.9 | 58.3 | 56.3 | |
| 20 | Boyd County | 67.6 | 24.8 | 83.3 | 35.5 | 93.6 | 62.2 | 65.8 | 96.6 | 86 | 37 | 47.3 | 47.2 | |
| 21 | Antelope County | 67.5 | 24.8 | 73 | 50.2 | 97.5 | 80.3 | 66.4 | 80.6 | 17.1 | 47.1 | 58.1 | 56.5 | |
| 22 | Arthur County | 67.5 | 50.2 | 52.2 | 60.2 | 97.5 | 82.2 | 50.6 | 99.7 | N/A | 36.6 | 59.9 | 44.4 | |
| 23 | Holt County | 67.4 | 28.7 | 75.4 | 59.5 | 91.4 | 73.7 | 57.5 | 82.8 | 86 | 40.1 | 53.5 | 50.3 | |
| 24 | Cedar County | 67.3 | 35.1 | 73.3 | 75.4 | 81.5 | 85.1 | 63.7 | 78.3 | 18 | 43.6 | 54 | 52.2 | |
| 25 | Hooker County | 66.7 | 16 | 96.6 | 8.2 | 97.5 | 66.6 | 48.7 | 99.7 | 86 | 41.5 | 59.9 | 51 |
Loup County
Thomas County
Nuckolls County
Wheeler County
Dundy County
Rock County
Boone County
Butler County
Grant County
Fillmore County
Garfield County
Harlan County
Garden County
McPherson County
Polk County
Franklin County
Gosper County
Logan County
Stanton County
Boyd County
Antelope County
Arthur County
Holt County
Cedar County
Hooker County
Frequently Asked Questions about Counties in Nebraska
Common questions about county rankings and scores in Nebraska.
What is the best county in Nebraska?
Loup County is the top-ranked county in Nebraska with a CountyScore of 81.7/100. It leads the state across the available scoring dimensions, which include Property Tax, Cost of Living, Income & Jobs, Safety, Health, Schools, Disaster Risk, Water Quality, Weather & Climate, Soil Quality, Lawn Care, Farmers Markets.
How many counties are ranked in Nebraska?
Nebraska has 93 counties in total. Of those, 93 have been ranked with a composite score based on available data dimensions. The remaining 0 counties do not yet have enough data for a full score.
What factors determine a county's score?
Each county is scored 0–100 across up to eight data dimensions: Property Tax, Cost of Living, Income & Jobs, Safety, Health, Schools, Disaster Risk, and Water Quality. The composite score is a weighted average of whichever dimensions have data. Currently available dimensions are: Property Tax, Cost of Living, Income & Jobs, Safety, Health, Schools, Disaster Risk, Water Quality, Weather & Climate, Soil Quality, Lawn Care, Farmers Markets. Higher scores are always better — a score of 100 represents the best possible performance for that dimension.
What is the average county score in Nebraska?
The average composite CountyScore across all ranked counties in Nebraska is 59/100. The national average is 50/100, so Nebraska counties score 9 points above the national average.
How does Nebraska compare to other states?
Nebraska's average county score of 59/100 is 9 points above the national average of 50/100. You can compare Nebraska counties to counties in any other state using the county detail pages or the CountyScore compare tool.
Explore County Data by Category
Dive deeper into specific dimensions for counties in Nebraska.
Best counties in other states
Data: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS, 2019–2023 ACS — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.