RANKING · 2025 ESTIMATES · 32 SHOWN OF 32

Most sparsely populated, Nebraska cities

Nebraska cities with the fewest 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.

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SAME RANKING BYCounties States Metros

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2025

RANKPLACESTATEPOPPOPULATION DENSITYVS 2000

01▲1Sidney, NENE6,432859+2%

02▲1York, NENE8,2841,269+3%

03▲1Beatrice, NENE12,3181,301−1%

04▲3McCook, NENE7,1571,311−10%

05Holdrege, NENE5,5551,313−1%

06▼5Gretna, NENE9,2071,324+291%

07▲2Blair, NENE7,9971,451+6%

08Norfolk, NENE26,6771,470+13%

09▲1Nebraska City, NENE7,5121,511+4%

10▲1Gering, NENE8,5351,538+10%

11▲2Alliance, NENE7,9141,617−12%

12▲3North Platte, NENE22,5241,648−6%

13▲1Hastings, NENE25,1211,689+4%

14▼2Wahoo, NENE5,0231,714+27%

15▲2Grand Island, NENE53,9431,791+26%

16Seward, NENE7,8921,795+25%

17▲1Crete, NENE7,7471,967+29%

18▲1Plattsmouth, NENE6,9552,097+1%

19▲1Papillion, NENE25,1272,098+54%

20▲3Scottsbluff, NENE14,2592,150−3%

21▲1Wayne, NENE6,3382,181+14%

22▼1Lexington, NENE11,1762,202+12%

23▲1South Sioux City, NENE14,1582,248+19%

24▲1Kearney, NENE34,7822,323+27%

25▲1Columbus, NENE25,2482,381+20%

26▲1Schuyler, NENE6,8002,486+27%

27▲1Fremont, NENE28,3502,580+13%

28▲1Bellevue, NENE64,8632,929+46%

29▲2La Vista, NENE16,5432,936+41%

30Lincoln, NENE301,5223,016+34%

31▲1Omaha, NENE488,7973,419+25%

32▲1Ralston, NENE6,3823,906+1%

SHOWING 1–32 OF 32

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