AreaScoop
Grand Island, NE

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Grand Island, NE

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Demographics

Majority WhiteSimpson's Diversity Index: 55
Population52,761
Foreign Born11.6%
Population Density1,744people per mi²
Median Age34.5 yrs
Demographics Trajectory
ChangingSince 2010, this city has seen significant changes in racial and ethnic composition in a short time.
Current Race / Ethnicity Breakdown
Population Trends

Quality of Life

Overall Quality Of Life
A
Great

A high quality of life with strong walkability, manageable living costs, healthy neighborhood signals, and solid amenity access.

Quality of Life blends cost of living, nearby amenities, socioeconomic signals, and neighborhood character. City-level scores represent the whole municipality; individual neighborhoods can differ.

Cost of Living

76/100

24% below national average

A+

The Real Cost of Living in Grand Island, Nebraska

TierIndividualFamily (4)
Survival $15k$27k
Comfortable $39k$58k
Luxury $113k+$175k+
Elite (Top 5%) $137k+$213k+
Affordability Ratio

108%

The Hood Index™

A metric tracking the socioeconomic signals of the area.

A+
Hood Index scan area
Luxury Lean94%
RisksNeutralGrowth
Premium
40
Positive
40
Poor
2
Negative
4

Groceries

5 within 10 miles

0.9mi

Gas

0 within 10 miles

Hospital

3 within 20 miles

1.4mi

Airport

Hall County Airport Authority Administration Office

3.1mi

Post Office

USPS — Grand Island, NE

2.7mi

Critical Amenities

Country Clubs

Nearest private club or country club.

Golf4Nearest 2.2 mi
Camping20Nearest 7.3 mi
Marina0 
Winery0 
Ice Rink0Nearest 123.3 mi
Gun Range3Nearest 0.2 mi

Affluence Level

Overall Affluence Grade
C-
Average

A middle-class area roughly in line with national averages across income, home values, education, and employment.

Median HHI
$62k+5.7%
17% below US avg
Est. Avg Net Worth
$286k
56% below US avg
College Educated
20.7%
41% below US avg
WFH
3.5%
76% below US avg
Homeownership
59.5%
9% below US avg
Median Home
$203k
28% below US avg

Crime

Overall Crime Grade
B-
Safe

Generally safer than 60% of comparable U.S. locations.

Crime Rate
21.0
Incidents per 1,000 residents
5yr Trend
−2.3%
Overall crime change since 2020

Violent Crime

5yr+13.4%
Homicide
0.02 / 1k Residents17% below state avg
Robbery
0.15 / 1k Residents20% below state avg
Aggravated Assault
2.87 / 1k Residents89% above state avg

Property Crime

5yr−18.1%
Burglary
2.08 / 1k Residents77% above state avg
Larceny-Theft
13.47 / 1k Residents26% above state avg
Motor Vehicle Theft
1.52 / 1k Residents17% below state avg
Source: FBI Crime Data · 2025

Political Climate

Cook PVI: R+27Solidly Conservative

District shown is the primary district for this city’s centroid. Cities may span multiple districts.

Presidential Voting Trends for Grand Island, Nebraska
Dem Rep
20%30%40%50%60%70%80%2000200420082012201620202024

Personal Sovereignty

Personal Sovereignty measures your capacity for self-reliance and independence with minimal government friction. Higher scores mean fewer barriers between you and the way you want to live... but it assumes you have the space you need and good neighbors.

Overall Sovereignty Grade
B-
Self-Reliant

Viable for self-reliance. Generally workable, though some barriers may limit total independence.

State Policy

Tax Burden
D
Poor11.5% of income
Property Rights
C
FairIJ Grade C
Firearm Rights
C+
FairFPC Grade C+
Homeschooling
C+
WeakModerate regulation

Energy independence: Importer (35% of energy produced in-state)

Personal Liberty

Raw Milk
A-
OpenFarm sales legal
Gambling Laws
B
Broadly OpenCasinos · Poker · Sportsbetting
Marijuana Laws
C+
LimitedMedical only

Homesteading

Growing Season183 days232 frost-free
Annual Rainfall26.4"
Elevation1,864 ft

Strategic Assessment

Strategic Assessment grades tactical survivability using Joel Skousen's Strategic Relocation framework. Major population centers, blast zones, natural disasters, and border exposure all drive risk — lower exposure means a more defensible position in a crisis.

Learn more about Strategic Relocation ($)
Overall Strategic Grade
B
Defensible

Workable tactical position. Some exposure to population density or targets, but generally defensible in a crisis.

Strategic Pillars

City Proximity
A+
Great1268 mi to nearest major city
Pop. Density
C-
Weak1,744/sq mi
Fallout Danger
B
Fair2 within ~30 mi
Natural Disaster
D
PoorInland Flooding
Border / Coast
A+
Greatborder 557 mi · coast 793 mi
FEMA Expected Loss$38.5M/yrfor the county

* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-04-19T12:33:05.000Z

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