Nebraska · 32 places of 5,000+
Largest cities in Nebraska by population
Short answer
- Largest
- 489,265
- Places 5,000+
- 32
- 100,000+
- 2
The 20 largest
Omaha leads with 489,265 residents, 1.6 times the 300,619 of second-place Lincoln. The ten largest places hold 1,072,530 people, 53% of the state's 2,005,465. 2 places have 100,000 or more.
The median place of 5,000+ is Gretna at 9,207. Within the top ten, Columbus grew most since July 2020 (+4.3%) and Papillion least (-1.2%). None of them crosses a county line.
- 01Omaha489,265
- 02Lincoln300,619
- 03Bellevue64,777
- 04Grand Island53,250
- 05Kearney34,741
- 06Fremont28,190
- 07Norfolk26,162
- 08Papillion25,248
- 09Hastings25,152
- 10Columbus25,126
- 11North Platte22,549
- 12La Vista16,543
- 13Scottsbluff14,323
- 14South Sioux City13,910
- 15Beatrice12,290
- 16Lexington11,205
- 17Gretna9,207
- 18Gering8,554
- 19York8,179
- 20Alliance8,071
Dots: the 20 places in the chart. Orange pin: Omaha, ranked first.
All 32 places of 5,000+ ranked
| # | Place | 2024 | Since 2020 | County |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Omaha | 489,265 | -0.7% | Douglas County |
| 2 | Lincoln | 300,619 | +3.0% | Lancaster County |
| 3 | Bellevue | 64,777 | -0.6% | Sarpy County |
| 4 | Grand Island | 53,250 | +0.4% | Hall County |
| 5 | Kearney | 34,741 | +2.5% | Buffalo County |
| 6 | Fremont | 28,190 | +3.9% | Dodge County |
| 7 | Norfolk | 26,162 | +1.1% | Madison County |
| 8 | Papillion | 25,248 | -1.2% | Sarpy County |
| 9 | Hastings | 25,152 | +0.1% | Adams County |
| 10 | Columbus | 25,126 | +4.3% | Platte County |
| 11 | North Platte | 22,549 | -3.3% | Lincoln County |
| 12 | La Vista | 16,543 | -1.4% | Sarpy County |
| 13 | Scottsbluff | 14,323 | -0.8% | Scotts Bluff County |
| 14 | South Sioux City | 13,910 | -0.8% | Dakota County |
| 15 | Beatrice | 12,290 | +0.6% | Gage County |
| 16 | Lexington | 11,205 | +5.1% | Dawson County |
| 17 | Gretna | 9,207 | -1.2% | Sarpy County |
| 18 | Gering | 8,554 | -0.7% | Scotts Bluff County |
| 19 | York | 8,179 | +1.5% | York County |
| 20 | Alliance | 8,071 | -1.1% | Box Butte County |
| 21 | Blair | 7,999 | +2.2% | Washington County |
| 22 | Seward | 7,752 | +0.7% | Seward County |
| 23 | Crete | 7,580 | +0.2% | Saline County |
| 24 | Nebraska City | 7,526 | +4.3% | Otoe County |
| 25 | McCook | 7,212 | -2.7% | Red Willow County |
| 26 | Plattsmouth | 6,887 | +4.4% | Cass County |
| 27 | Schuyler | 6,708 | +2.8% | Colfax County |
| 28 | Sidney | 6,483 | +1.0% | Cheyenne County |
| 29 | Ralston | 6,443 | -0.6% | Douglas County |
| 30 | Wayne | 6,229 | +4.3% | Wayne County |
| 31 | Holdrege | 5,556 | +0.3% | Phelps County |
| 32 | Chadron | 5,094 | -1.6% | Dawes County |
Questions people ask
What is the largest city in Nebraska?
Omaha, with 489,265 residents on July 1, 2024 in the Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
What is the second largest city in Nebraska?
Lincoln, with 300,619 residents, 188,646 fewer than Omaha.
How many cities in Nebraska have more than 100,000 people?
2: Omaha, Lincoln.
How is city size measured here?
By the Census Bureau's July 1, 2024 population estimate for each incorporated place, inside its legal city limits. Metro areas and census-designated places are not ranked.
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.