Ralston, NE

Census place 3140605 · pop 6,472

D58/ 100
😐 Meh
D
in NE
📍 Nebraska ranks #12 of 50 states →
🏆 Broadband97.0% · top 7%
🚽 Growth-11.6% · bottom 2%
Taxes
1.81% property · US 0.99%6.98% sales · US 7.00%up to 4.55% income · US 4.63%

Sales & income are statewide.

The breakdown — worst first

Population growth (5yr)-11.6%2

U.S. median +2.4% · worse than most cities

-11.6% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Property-tax burden1.81%14

U.S. median 0.99% · worse than most cities

1.81% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Natural disaster riskCounty-level96/10028

U.S. median 77/100 · worse than most cities

96/100 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.

Uninsured adults11.7%33

U.S. median 9.3% · worse than most cities

11.7% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Adult smoking14.6%37

U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities

14.6% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Adult obesity36.9%38

U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities

36.9% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Air quality (AQI)County-level45 AQI39

U.S. median 42 AQI · worse than most cities

45 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Bachelor's degree or higher26.8%42

U.S. median 24.3% · worse than most cities

26.8% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Median household income$69,40343

U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities

$69,403 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Homeownership63.3%49

U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities

63.3% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Property crime rate1208/100k53

U.S. median 964/100k · better than most cities

1208 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.

Physical inactivity23.7%58

U.S. median 26.5% · better than most cities

23.7% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Unhealthy air daysCounty-level1 days62

U.S. median 1 days · better than most cities

1 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.

Housing cost$230,80062

U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities

$230,800 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Income inequality0.4166

U.S. median 0.43 · better than most cities

Gini 0.41 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).

Violent crime rate110/100k69

U.S. median 152/100k · better than most cities

110 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.

Commute time20 min76

U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities

20 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.

Poor mental health15.2%76

U.S. median 17.4% · better than most cities

15.2% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Rent$1,370/mo77

U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities

$1,370/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).

Unemployment rateCounty-level2.9%83

U.S. median 3.6% · better than most cities

2.9% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Poverty rate4.0%92

U.S. median 12.1% · better than most cities

4.0% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Broadband access97.0%93

U.S. median 90.0% · better than most cities

97.0% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Frequently asked

Is Ralston, NE a good place to live?
By the numbers, Ralston scores 58/100 — 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 broadband access and its weakest is population growth (5yr). 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 Ralston, NE?
Ralston reports 110 violent crimes per 100k and 1208 property crimes per 100k — better than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
Is Ralston, NE expensive to live in?
Ralston has a median home value of $230,800 and typical rent around $1,370/mo — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in Ralston, NE?
Its weakest measured area is population growth (5yr) (-11.6%) — 2/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
What is Ralston, NE best at?
Its strongest measured area is broadband access (97.0%) — 93/100, better than most U.S. cities.

Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.