Grand Island, NE
Census place 3119595 · pop 52,884
Sales & income are statewide.
The breakdown — worst first
U.S. median 9.3% · worse than most cities
17.5% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.
U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities
41.5% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).
U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities
31.6% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.
U.S. median 24.3% · worse than most cities
20.9% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities
Gini 0.47 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).
U.S. median 152/100k · worse than most cities
370 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median 0.99% · worse than most cities
1.44% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.
U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities
57.8% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.
U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities
15.2% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.
U.S. median 964/100k · worse than most cities
1774 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities
$63,795 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.
U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities
89.5% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities
14.8% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.
U.S. median +2.4% · better than most cities
+3.4% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?
U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities
84/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities
$218,600 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.
U.S. median 3.6% · better than most cities
3.2% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities
$1,295/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).
U.S. median 17.4% · better than most cities
14.4% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).
U.S. median 1 days · better than most cities
0 unhealthy-air days per year · Days per year with unhealthy air (AQI above 100). Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities
17 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.
U.S. median 42 AQI · better than most cities
32 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
Frequently asked
- Is Grand Island, NE a good place to live?
- By the numbers, Grand Island scores 50/100 — a D (Meh) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 22 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is air quality (aqi) and its weakest is uninsured adults. Nebraska overall ranks #12 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
- How safe is Grand Island, NE?
- Grand Island reports 370 violent crimes per 100k and 1774 property crimes per 100k — worse than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
- Is Grand Island, NE expensive to live in?
- Grand Island has a median home value of $218,600 and typical rent around $1,295/mo — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
- What's the biggest downside of living in Grand Island, NE?
- Its weakest measured area is uninsured adults (17.5%) — 11/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
- What is Grand Island, NE best at?
- Its strongest measured area is air quality (aqi) (32 AQI) — 92/100, better than most U.S. cities. (A county-level figure.) Fun fact: Hometown of actor Henry Fonda and host of the Nebraska State Fair.
Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.