RANKING · 2025 ACS · 32 SHOWN OF 32

Most densely populated, Nebraska cities

Nebraska cities ranked by residents per square mile (2023). This list covers the 32 cities in Nebraska that qualify, ranked against each other statewide.

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SAME RANKING BYCounties States Metros

RELATEDLargest by population Fastest growing Fastest shrinking Most sparsely populated Best broadband access Worst broadband access

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2025

RANKPLACESTATEPOPPOPULATION DENSITYVS 2000

01Ralston, NENE6,3823,906+1%

02Omaha, NENE488,7973,419+25%

03Lincoln, NENE301,5223,016+34%

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

05Bellevue, NENE64,8632,929+46%

06Fremont, NENE28,3502,580+13%

07Schuyler, NENE6,8002,486+27%

08Columbus, NENE25,2482,381+20%

09Kearney, NENE34,7822,323+27%

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

11Lexington, NENE11,1762,202+12%

12Wayne, NENE6,3382,181+14%

13Scottsbluff, NENE14,2592,150−3%

14Papillion, NENE25,1272,098+54%

15Plattsmouth, NENE6,9552,097+1%

16Crete, NENE7,7471,967+29%

17Seward, NENE7,8921,795+25%

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

19Wahoo, NENE5,0231,714+27%

20Hastings, NENE25,1211,689+4%

21North Platte, NENE22,5241,648−6%

22Alliance, NENE7,9141,617−12%

23Gering, NENE8,5351,538+10%

24Nebraska City, NENE7,5121,511+4%

25Norfolk, NENE26,6771,470+13%

26Blair, NENE7,9971,451+6%

27Gretna, NENE9,2071,324+291%

28Holdrege, NENE5,5551,313−1%

29McCook, NENE7,1571,311−10%

30Beatrice, NENE12,3181,301−1%

31York, NENE8,2841,269+3%

32Sidney, NENE6,432859+2%

SHOWING 1–32 OF 32

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UPDATED 2026-06-02 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR ESTIMATES