RANKING · 2025 ESTIMATES · 32 SHOWN OF 32

Most densely populated, Nebraska cities

Nebraska cities ranked by residents per square mile (2025). This list covers the 32 cities in Nebraska that qualify, ranked against each other statewide. The median across all 32 is 1,967. Biggest climber in the top 100 since 2020: Gretna, NE, up 7 places to #27.

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NebraskaAll statesPop > 5KAll rankings

SAME RANKING BYCounties States Metros

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2025

RANKPLACESTATEPOPPOPULATION DENSITYVS 2000

01▲1Ralston, NENE6,3823,906+1%

02▲1Omaha, NENE488,7973,419+25%

03▲2Lincoln, NENE301,5223,016+34%

04La Vista, NENE16,5432,936+41%

05▲1Bellevue, NENE64,8632,929+46%

06▲1Fremont, NENE28,3502,580+13%

07▲1Schuyler, NENE6,8002,486+27%

08▲1Columbus, NENE25,2482,381+20%

09▲1Kearney, NENE34,7822,323+27%

10▲1South Sioux City, NENE14,1582,248+19%

11▲3Lexington, NENE11,1762,202+12%

12▲1Wayne, NENE6,3382,181+14%

13▼1Scottsbluff, NENE14,2592,150−3%

14▲1Papillion, NENE25,1272,098+54%

15▲1Plattsmouth, NENE6,9552,097+1%

16▲1Crete, NENE7,7471,967+29%

17▲2Seward, NENE7,8921,795+25%

18Grand Island, NENE53,9431,791+26%

19▲4Wahoo, NENE5,0231,714+27%

20▲1Hastings, NENE25,1211,689+4%

21▼1North Platte, NENE22,5241,648−6%

22Alliance, NENE7,9141,617−12%

23▲1Gering, NENE8,5351,538+10%

24▲1Nebraska City, NENE7,5121,511+4%

25▲2Norfolk, NENE26,6771,470+13%

26Blair, NENE7,9971,451+6%

27▲7Gretna, NENE9,2071,324+291%

28▲2Holdrege, NENE5,5551,313−1%

29▼1McCook, NENE7,1571,311−10%

30▲1Beatrice, NENE12,3181,301−1%

31▲1York, NENE8,2841,269+3%

32▲1Sidney, NENE6,432859+2%

SHOWING 1–32 OF 32

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UPDATED 2026-09-11 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU POPULATION ESTIMATES