Top 10 most dangerous cities in Nebraska

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.

Omaha Population: 479,529 561 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.54 chance of being a victim: 1 in 178 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,029

Omaha, NE holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Nebraska with 561 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (424), robbery (69), rape (62) and homicide (6) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 98% 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.

Sidney Population: 6,451 510 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.40 chance of being a victim: 1 in 196 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,149

The second most dangerous city is Sidney. With a population of 6,451 and a violent crime rate that is 80% higher than the Nebraska average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Sidney are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 510 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 196 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Alliance Population: 8,139 474 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.30 chance of being a victim: 1 in 211 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,152

Home to 8,139 residents, Alliance, NE ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Nebraska. Unfortunately for residents of Alliance, crime is widespread, with more than 474 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 1.30 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 68% higher than the Nebraska violent crime rate.

Scottsbluff Population: 14,660 420 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.15 chance of being a victim: 1 in 238 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,357

With a violent crime rate that is 49% higher than the Nebraska average, it's not hard to see why Scottsbluff made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (13), assault (315), rape (85) and homicide (7). 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 Scottsbluff more vulnerable to high crime.

Grand Island Population: 51,250 406 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.11 chance of being a victim: 1 in 246 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,983

The ongoing battle with crime in Grand Island, 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 406 and a 1 in 246 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Grand Island has a violent crime rate that is 44% 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 Grand Island.

Lincoln Population: 286,388 382 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.05 chance of being a victim: 1 in 262 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,224

Lincoln, NE comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 382 per 100,000 people, which is 35% higher than the Nebraska average. Lincoln has a population of 286,388, which translates to 1.05 crimes per day and 1 in 262 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 Lincoln which are much safer than others.

Hastings Population: 24,878 373 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.02 chance of being a victim: 1 in 268 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,732

A 1 in 268 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 1.02 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Hastings makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 373 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 32% higher than the Nebraska average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (297), robbery (8), rape (68) and homicide (0).

Kearney Population: 33,783 342 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.94 chance of being a victim: 1 in 292 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,951

Kearney, NE is another one of the most dangerous cities in Nebraska and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 33,783 and a violent crime rate of 342 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 202 counts of assault, 20 counts of robbery, 117 counts of rape and 3 counts of homicide. All told, the Kearney violent crime rate is 21% higher than the Nebraska average.

Crete Population: 7,013 333 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.91 chance of being a victim: 1 in 300 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,069

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, Crete, NE comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Nebraska with a violent crime rate of 333 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 0.91 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 300 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Beatrice Population: 12,282 271 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.74 chance of being a victim: 1 in 369 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,274

Rounding out our list at #10 is Beatrice, NE. With a population of 12,282 and a violent crime rate of 271 per 100,000 people (4% lower than the Nebraska average), some parts of Beatrice are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 173 counts of assault, 8 counts of robbery, 90 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 369 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	Omaha	479,529	561	4,029
2	Sidney	6,451	510	2,149
3	Alliance	8,139	474	2,152
4	Scottsbluff	14,660	420	3,357
5	Grand Island	51,250	406	2,983
6	Lincoln	286,388	382	3,224
7	Hastings	24,878	373	2,732
8	Kearney	33,783	342	1,951
9	Crete	7,013	333	2,069
10	Beatrice	12,282	271	1,274
11	York	7,810	207	1,181
12	North Platte	23,734	190	3,042
13	South Sioux City	12,867	183	2,901
14	Bellevue	63,970	182	1,580
15	Lexington	10,069	135	1,994
16	Plattsmouth	6,453	134	1,356
17	Holdrege	5,406	128	439
18	Wayne	5,603	116	842
19	La Vista	17,081	115	1,605
20	Ralston	7,305	109	1,846
21	Papillion	24,310	92	1,236
22	Seward	7,210	78	650
23	Blair	7,830	76	955
24	Columbus	23,291	70	1,254
25	Norfolk	24,410	64	866
26	Schuyler	6,269	15	124

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.