RANKING · 2020 CENSUS · 34 SHOWN OF 34

Most sparsely populated, Nebraska cities · 2020

Nebraska cities with the fewest residents per square mile (2023). This list covers the 34 cities in Nebraska that qualify, ranked against each other statewide.

Flip the list · Most densely populated, US cities →

NebraskaAll statesPop > 5KAll rankings

SAME RANKING BYCounties States Metros

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2025

RANKPLACESTATEPOPPOPULATION DENSITYVS 2000

01Gretna, NENE9,207731+116%

02Sidney, NENE6,432856+2%

03York, NENE8,2841,236−0%

04Beatrice, NENE12,3181,295−2%

05Holdrege, NENE5,5551,303−2%

06Offutt AFB, NENE6,0741,353−40%

07McCook, NENE7,1571,364−7%

08Norfolk, NENE26,6771,375+6%

09Blair, NENE7,9971,414+4%

10Nebraska City, NENE7,5121,452−0%

11Gering, NENE8,5351,543+10%

12Wahoo, NENE5,0231,644+22%

13Alliance, NENE7,9141,666−9%

14Hastings, NENE25,1211,691+5%

15North Platte, NENE22,5241,711−2%

16Seward, NENE7,8921,739+21%

17Grand Island, NENE53,9431,764+24%

18Crete, NENE7,7471,803+18%

19Plattsmouth, NENE6,9551,973−5%

20Papillion, NENE25,1272,017+48%

21Lexington, NENE11,1762,039+3%

22Wayne, NENE6,3382,055+7%

23Scottsbluff, NENE14,2592,177−2%

24South Sioux City, NENE14,1582,229+18%

25Kearney, NENE34,7822,257+23%

26Columbus, NENE25,2482,266+15%

27Schuyler, NENE6,8002,394+22%

28Fremont, NENE28,3502,470+8%

29Bellevue, NENE64,8632,898+45%

30Lincoln, NENE301,5222,912+29%

31La Vista, NENE16,5432,972+43%

32Omaha, NENE488,7973,399+25%

33Ralston, NENE6,3823,974+3%

34Chalco, NENE10,5954,116+3%

SHOWING 1–34 OF 34

Download CSV (full list, 34 rows)

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