Nebraska · 32 places of 5,000+
Fastest-growing cities in Nebraska, 2020 to 2024
Short answer
- Fastest
- +5.1%
- Growing
- 19
- Shrinking
- 13
The 20 fastest-growing
Lexington grew fastest, from 10,666 in July 2020 to 11,205 in July 2024, +5.1%. It is the 16th largest of the 32 places ranked. 19 places grew and 13 shrank or held flat; the median change was +0.3%.
By raw numbers the biggest gain was in Lincoln, +8,782 people. At the other end, North Platte changed by -3.3%. Growth is measured between the July 2020 and July 2024 estimates for places with 5,000 or more residents in 2024, so fast growth from a small base can outrank larger absolute gains.
- 01Lexington+5.1%
- 02Plattsmouth+4.4%
- 03Nebraska City+4.3%
- 04Columbus+4.3%
- 05Wayne+4.3%
- 06Fremont+3.9%
- 07Lincoln+3.0%
- 08Schuyler+2.8%
- 09Kearney+2.5%
- 10Blair+2.2%
- 11York+1.5%
- 12Norfolk+1.1%
- 13Sidney+1.0%
- 14Seward+0.7%
- 15Beatrice+0.6%
- 16Grand Island+0.4%
- 17Holdrege+0.3%
- 18Crete+0.2%
- 19Hastings+0.1%
- 20Bellevue-0.6%
Dots: the 20 places in the chart. Orange pin: Lexington, ranked first.
All 32 places of 5,000+ ranked
| # | Place | 2024 | Since 2020 | County |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lexington | 11,205 | +5.1% | Dawson County |
| 2 | Plattsmouth | 6,887 | +4.4% | Cass County |
| 3 | Nebraska City | 7,526 | +4.3% | Otoe County |
| 4 | Columbus | 25,126 | +4.3% | Platte County |
| 5 | Wayne | 6,229 | +4.3% | Wayne County |
| 6 | Fremont | 28,190 | +3.9% | Dodge County |
| 7 | Lincoln | 300,619 | +3.0% | Lancaster County |
| 8 | Schuyler | 6,708 | +2.8% | Colfax County |
| 9 | Kearney | 34,741 | +2.5% | Buffalo County |
| 10 | Blair | 7,999 | +2.2% | Washington County |
| 11 | York | 8,179 | +1.5% | York County |
| 12 | Norfolk | 26,162 | +1.1% | Madison County |
| 13 | Sidney | 6,483 | +1.0% | Cheyenne County |
| 14 | Seward | 7,752 | +0.7% | Seward County |
| 15 | Beatrice | 12,290 | +0.6% | Gage County |
| 16 | Grand Island | 53,250 | +0.4% | Hall County |
| 17 | Holdrege | 5,556 | +0.3% | Phelps County |
| 18 | Crete | 7,580 | +0.2% | Saline County |
| 19 | Hastings | 25,152 | +0.1% | Adams County |
| 20 | Bellevue | 64,777 | -0.6% | Sarpy County |
| 21 | Ralston | 6,443 | -0.6% | Douglas County |
| 22 | Gering | 8,554 | -0.7% | Scotts Bluff County |
| 23 | Omaha | 489,265 | -0.7% | Douglas County |
| 24 | Scottsbluff | 14,323 | -0.8% | Scotts Bluff County |
| 25 | South Sioux City | 13,910 | -0.8% | Dakota County |
| 26 | Alliance | 8,071 | -1.1% | Box Butte County |
| 27 | Gretna | 9,207 | -1.2% | Sarpy County |
| 28 | Papillion | 25,248 | -1.2% | Sarpy County |
| 29 | La Vista | 16,543 | -1.4% | Sarpy County |
| 30 | Chadron | 5,094 | -1.6% | Dawes County |
| 31 | McCook | 7,212 | -2.7% | Red Willow County |
| 32 | North Platte | 22,549 | -3.3% | Lincoln County |
Questions people ask
What is the fastest-growing city in Nebraska?
Lexington, up 5.1% from July 2020 to July 2024 among places of 5,000+, to 11,205 residents.
Which Nebraska city added the most people?
Lincoln, which gained 8,782 residents from July 2020 to July 2024.
How many Nebraska cities are shrinking?
13 of 32 places of 5,000+ had the same or fewer residents in July 2024 than in July 2020.
Why use places of 5,000 or more?
Small towns can swing by double-digit percentages from a few new homes, and Census estimates for them carry more uncertainty. The 5,000 floor keeps the ranking to places where a percentage means something.
Sources and data as of
Data as of: Census Vintage 2024 population estimates, 2024 Gazetteer land area and internal points, SAIPE 2023 median household income.
How every number is computed: methodology. Spotted a wrong figure? Report an error.