The secret is out. Nebraska and its communities continue to score high marks in national comparisons for affordability and quality of life.
One example is a 2018 study by WalletHub.com that found Nebraska holds the nation’s second-most affordable housing.
Another 2018 study, this one by Bankrate.com, concluded that Nebraska is among the nation’s best states in which to retire when considering factors such as cost of living, crime rate, culture, and access to health care.
For those on the other end of the career spectrum, a recent comparison by MoneyRates.com found that Nebraska is among the top states for millennials, ranking the Cornhusker State third best overall. Nebraska also scored top-ten rankings for young adult employment and residential rental affordability.
Then there is the issue of happiness, as a recent WalletHub study showed that Nebraska is one of America’s happiest states. Analysts at the financial website considered several factors such as financial security, physical and emotional health, personal purpose and social connectivity. The Cornhusker State scored very well in the category of work environment, which includes commute times, personal earnings adjusted by cost of living, jobless rates and job security.
A 2018 CNBC comparison ranked Nebraska’s education system third best overall. The study considered K-12 public schools, community colleges and other higher education institutions.
Nebraska’s major cities also continue to score high marks. Some examples include:
- Resonance Consultancy in 2018 ranked Omaha among the nation’s very best “small cities” (those between 200,000 and 1 million in population). Behind only Honolulu, Omaha came in at No. 2 overall in the study, which considered 27 criteria, including crime rates, air quality, housing affordability, entertainment, cultural diversity and economic vitality.
- A 2017 study by HeroPay listed both Omaha and Lincoln in its best 25 U.S. cities in which to start a business.
- Both Omaha and Lincoln were ranked in SmartAsset.com’s top five for affordable rental rates.
In an increasingly uncertain world – with congested areas where a high quality of life seems unattainable for many – Nebraska stands out in a positive way by offering the perfect blend of opportunity, stability and affordability.