Hastings, NE
Census place 3121415 · pop 25,008
Birthplace of Kool-Aid, invented here by Edwin Perkins in 1927 and celebrated each August at Kool-Aid Days.
Source ↗Sales & income are statewide.
The breakdown — worst first
U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities
41.4% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).
U.S. median 0.99% · worse than most cities
1.54% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.
U.S. median 964/100k · worse than most cities
2011 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities
Gini 0.46 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).
U.S. median +2.4% · worse than most cities
+0.4% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?
U.S. median 152/100k · worse than most cities
318 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities
$64,048 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.
U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities
89.6% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities
14.8% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.
U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities
27.6% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.
U.S. median 9.3% · worse than most cities
10.5% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.
U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities
14.0% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.
U.S. median 24.3% · worse than most cities
29.2% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
U.S. median 67.2% · better than most cities
65.1% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.
U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities
77/100 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
$184,700 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.
U.S. median 17.4% · better than most cities
14.6% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).
U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities
$1,246/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).
U.S. median 3.6% · better than most cities
2.6% 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 24 min · better than most cities
14 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.
Not measured for Hastings: Air, Bad air. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.
Frequently asked
- Is Hastings, NE a good place to live?
- By the numbers, Hastings scores 54/100 — a D (Meh) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 20 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is commute time and its weakest is adult obesity. 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 Hastings, NE?
- Hastings reports 318 violent crimes per 100k and 2011 property crimes per 100k — worse than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
- Is Hastings, NE expensive to live in?
- Hastings has a median home value of $184,700 and typical rent around $1,246/mo — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
- What's the biggest downside of living in Hastings, NE?
- Its weakest measured area is adult obesity (41.4%) — 13/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
- What is Hastings, NE best at?
- Its strongest measured area is commute time (14 min) — 97/100, better than most U.S. cities. Fun fact: Birthplace of Kool-Aid, invented here by Edwin Perkins in 1927 and celebrated each August at Kool-Aid Days.
Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.