Top 10 most dangerous cities in Nebraska

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Nebraska, known for its vast prairies and agricultural roots, offers a unique and tranquil living experience. From the vibrant city life of Omaha to the scenic beauty of the Sandhills, Nebraska provides a diverse array of attractions. The state's rich history and cultural heritage are evident in its museums, festivals, and historic sites. Despite its many positives, Nebraska faces safety challenges in certain urban areas. The most dangerous cities in Nebraska are identified by their violent crime rates per 100,000 people, highlighting regions where vigilance is necessary. The contrast between Nebraska's natural serenity and urban crime issues underscores the complexities of life in this diverse state.

Efforts to improve safety in Nebraska involve a combination of enhanced law enforcement measures and community engagement programs aimed at preventing violence and crime. These initiatives are crucial in addressing the safety concerns that affect some of the most dangerous cities in Nebraska. While these areas present significant challenges, they also highlight the potential for community-driven solutions and revitalization efforts. Nebraska's commitment to fostering safer environments is evident in its proactive measures and the resilience of its residents. The state's blend of agricultural heritage, cultural richness, and economic opportunities continues to attract people, despite the complexities of urban safety concerns.

Grand Island Population: 51,250 409 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.12 chance of being a victim: 1 in 244 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,489

Grand Island, NE holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Nebraska with 409 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (312), robbery (31), rape (61) and homicide (6) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 78% higher than the Nebraska average. Contributing to these numbers could be the higher than average rates of poverty, unemployment, and gang activity. Ongoing efforts from local law enforcement and the community have been created to help reduce the crime rates going forward.

Crete Population: 7,013 386 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.06 chance of being a victim: 1 in 259 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,734

The second most dangerous city is Crete. With a population of 7,013 and a violent crime rate that is 68% higher than the Nebraska average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Crete are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 386 violent crimes per 100,000 people in the last calendar year. In some areas, the riks are greater than others, as residents have a 1 in 259 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Lincoln Population: 286,388 366 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.00 chance of being a victim: 1 in 273 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,052

Home to 286,388 residents, Lincoln, NE ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Nebraska. Unfortunately for residents of Lincoln, crime is widespread, with more than 366 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 1.00 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 59% higher than the Nebraska violent crime rate.

Sidney Population: 6,451 358 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.98 chance of being a victim: 1 in 279 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,930

With a violent crime rate that is 56% higher than the Nebraska average, it's not hard to see why Sidney made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (0), assault (342), rape (16) and homicide (0). In regions where employment opportunities are scarce or where many jobs offer insufficient wages, the risk of increased unemployment and homelessness rises, this could be just some of the triggers that make Sidney more vulnerable to high crime.

Alliance Population: 8,139 326 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.89 chance of being a victim: 1 in 307 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,491

The ongoing battle with crime in Alliance, NE, is not a new issue - which is why there's no surprise that this city has made the list. With a violent crime rate of 326 and a 1 in 307 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Alliance has a violent crime rate that is 42% higher than the Nebraska average. Higher than average poverty and unemployment rates as well as a lack of available well-paying jobs, are most likely all contributing to the high rate of violent crime in Alliance.

Hastings Population: 24,878 298 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.82 chance of being a victim: 1 in 335 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,929

Hastings, NE comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 298 per 100,000 people, which is 30% higher than the Nebraska average. Hastings has a population of 24,878, which translates to 0.82 crimes per day and 1 in 335 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime. As with most cities, a high violent crime rate does not mean that all areas are unsafe, as there are definitely some areas in Hastings which are much safer than others.

Kearney Population: 33,783 293 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.80 chance of being a victim: 1 in 341 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,126

A 1 in 341 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 0.80 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Kearney makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 293 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 28% higher than the Nebraska average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (171), robbery (17), rape (104) and homicide (0).

Chadron Population: 5,482 267 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.73 chance of being a victim: 1 in 375 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,049

Chadron, NE is another one of the most dangerous cities in Nebraska and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 5,482 and a violent crime rate of 267 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 152 counts of assault, 0 counts of robbery, 114 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. All told, the Chadron violent crime rate is 16% higher than the Nebraska average.

Ralston Population: 7,305 266 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.73 chance of being a victim: 1 in 376 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,955

Economic conditions, education, social environment, law enforcement and urbanization can all have an impact on crime rates. Feeling the effects of most of those issues, Ralston, NE comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Nebraska with a violent crime rate of 266 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 0.73 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 376 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Scottsbluff Population: 14,660 236 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.65 chance of being a victim: 1 in 424 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,709

Rounding out our list at #10 is Scottsbluff, NE. With a population of 14,660 and a violent crime rate of 236 per 100,000 people (3% higher than the Nebraska average), some parts of Scottsbluff are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 164 counts of assault, 33 counts of robbery, 33 counts of rape and 7 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 424 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Full list of the most dangerous cities in Nebraska

Rank	Location	Population	Violent Crimes /100k	Total Crimes /100k
1	Grand Island	51,250	409	2,489
2	Crete	7,013	386	2,734
3	Lincoln	286,388	366	3,052
4	Sidney	6,451	358	1,930
5	Alliance	8,139	326	1,491
6	Hastings	24,878	298	2,929
7	Kearney	33,783	293	2,126
8	Chadron	5,482	267	3,049
9	Ralston	7,305	266	1,955
10	Scottsbluff	14,660	236	4,709
11	South Sioux City	12,867	207	2,789
12	North Platte	23,734	143	2,544
13	Schuyler	6,269	140	608
14	Blair	7,830	137	883
15	Beatrice	12,282	131	1,056
16	Nebraska City	7,270	121	1,563
17	Bellevue	63,970	117	1,712
18	McCook	7,555	110	1,470
19	York	7,810	109	1,409
20	Columbus	23,291	107	1,497
21	Norfolk	24,410	100	925
22	Lexington	10,069	84	1,609
23	Wayne	5,603	64	692
24	La Vista	17,081	62	1,594
25	Plattsmouth	6,453	60	971
26	Papillion	24,310	51	1,289
27	Seward	7,210	39	811

Methodology

The AreaVibes list of the most dangerous cities in Nebraska is derived from the FBI's uniform crime reporting program (UCR Program) from their most recent release. To compile this list, we used violent crime data (assualt, robbery, rape and murder) per 100,000 people and only included Nebraska cities with a population of 5,000 or more. Displaying violent crime rates based on a population of 100,000 allows for an equal comparison for each city.

Map of Violent Crime By State

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Explore our interactive map to discover the most dangerous cities in each state across the USA. This map highlights the states with the highest crime rates, providing insights into the factors contributing to these statistics. From urban centers facing economic hardships to regions grappling with social challenges, the map offers a visual representation of crime hotspots. Click on each state to learn more about its most dangerous cities, the types of crimes most prevalent, and the underlying causes behind these issues.