RANKING · 2020 CENSUS · 34 SHOWN OF 34

Most sparsely populated, Nebraska cities · 2020

Nebraska cities with the fewest residents per square mile (2020). This list covers the 34 cities in Nebraska that qualify, ranked against each other statewide. The median across all 34 is 1,803.

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SAME RANKING BYCounties States Metros

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2025

RANKPLACESTATEPOPPOPULATION DENSITYVS 2000

01Gretna, NENE9,207731+116%

02Sidney, NENE6,432856+2%

03York, NENE8,2841,2360%

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, NENE7,5121,4520%

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

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UPDATED 2026-09-11 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU DECENNIAL CENSUS