Top 10 most dangerous cities in Nebraska

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Nebraska, known for its vast prairies and agricultural roots, offers a unique and tranquil living experience. From the vibrant city life of Omaha to the scenic beauty of the Sandhills, Nebraska provides a diverse array of attractions. The state's rich history and cultural heritage are evident in its museums, festivals, and historic sites. Despite its many positives, Nebraska faces safety challenges in certain urban areas. The most dangerous cities in Nebraska are identified by their violent crime rates per 100,000 people, highlighting regions where vigilance is necessary. The contrast between Nebraska's natural serenity and urban crime issues underscores the complexities of life in this diverse state.

Efforts to improve safety in Nebraska involve a combination of enhanced law enforcement measures and community engagement programs aimed at preventing violence and crime. These initiatives are crucial in addressing the safety concerns that affect some of the most dangerous cities in Nebraska. While these areas present significant challenges, they also highlight the potential for community-driven solutions and revitalization efforts. Nebraska's commitment to fostering safer environments is evident in its proactive measures and the resilience of its residents. The state's blend of agricultural heritage, cultural richness, and economic opportunities continues to attract people, despite the complexities of urban safety concerns.

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Scottsbluff Population: 14,660 588 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.61 chance of being a victim: 1 in 170 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,371

Scottsbluff, NE holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Nebraska with 588 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (503), robbery (7), rape (78) and homicide (0) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 167% higher than the Nebraska average. Contributing to these numbers could be the higher than average rates of poverty, unemployment, and gang activity. Ongoing efforts from local law enforcement and the community have been created to help reduce the crime rates going forward.

Omaha Population: 479,529 369 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.01 chance of being a victim: 1 in 271 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,531

The second most dangerous city is Omaha. With a population of 479,529 and a violent crime rate that is 67% higher than the Nebraska average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Omaha are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 369 violent crimes per 100,000 people in the last calendar year. In some areas, the riks are greater than others, as residents have a 1 in 271 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Grand Island Population: 51,250 368 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.01 chance of being a victim: 1 in 272 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,128

Home to 51,250 residents, Grand Island, NE ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Nebraska. Unfortunately for residents of Grand Island, crime is widespread, with more than 368 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 1.01 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 67% higher than the Nebraska violent crime rate.

Lincoln Population: 286,388 348 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.95 chance of being a victim: 1 in 287 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,794

With a violent crime rate that is 58% higher than the Nebraska average, it's not hard to see why Lincoln made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (41), assault (241), rape (64) and homicide (3). In regions where employment opportunities are scarce or where many jobs offer insufficient wages, the risk of increased unemployment and homelessness rises, this could be just some of the triggers that make Lincoln more vulnerable to high crime.

Hastings Population: 24,878 318 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.87 chance of being a victim: 1 in 314 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,325

The ongoing battle with crime in Hastings, NE, is not a new issue - which is why there's no surprise that this city has made the list. With a violent crime rate of 318 and a 1 in 314 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Hastings has a violent crime rate that is 44% higher than the Nebraska average. Higher than average poverty and unemployment rates as well as a lack of available well-paying jobs, are most likely all contributing to the high rate of violent crime in Hastings.

Kearney Population: 33,783 301 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.83 chance of being a victim: 1 in 332 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,926

Kearney, NE comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 301 per 100,000 people, which is 37% higher than the Nebraska average. Kearney has a population of 33,783, which translates to 0.83 crimes per day and 1 in 332 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime. As with most cities, a high violent crime rate does not mean that all areas are unsafe, as there are definitely some areas in Kearney which are much safer than others.

Alliance Population: 8,139 237 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.65 chance of being a victim: 1 in 422 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,122

A 1 in 422 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 0.65 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Alliance makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 237 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 7% higher than the Nebraska average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (212), robbery (0), rape (25) and homicide (0).

Chadron Population: 5,482 214 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.59 chance of being a victim: 1 in 467 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,123

Chadron, NE is another one of the most dangerous cities in Nebraska and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 5,482 and a violent crime rate of 214 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 175 counts of assault, 0 counts of robbery, 39 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. All told, the Chadron violent crime rate is 3% lower than the Nebraska average.

Norfolk Population: 24,410 202 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.55 chance of being a victim: 1 in 495 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,346

Economic conditions, education, social environment, law enforcement and urbanization can all have an impact on crime rates. Feeling the effects of most of those issues, Norfolk, NE comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Nebraska with a violent crime rate of 202 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 0.55 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 495 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Crete Population: 7,013 201 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.55 chance of being a victim: 1 in 498 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,733

Rounding out our list at #10 is Crete, NE. With a population of 7,013 and a violent crime rate of 201 per 100,000 people (9% lower than the Nebraska average), some parts of Crete are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 94 counts of assault, 0 counts of robbery, 107 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 498 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Full list of the most dangerous cities in Nebraska

Rank	Location	Population	Violent Crimes /100k	Total Crimes /100k
1	Scottsbluff	14,660	588	3,371
2	Omaha	479,529	369	3,531
3	Grand Island	51,250	368	2,128
4	Lincoln	286,388	348	2,794
5	Hastings	24,878	318	2,325
6	Kearney	33,783	301	1,926
7	Alliance	8,139	237	1,122
8	Chadron	5,482	214	2,123
9	Norfolk	24,410	202	1,346
10	Crete	7,013	201	2,733
11	York	7,810	195	1,837
12	South Sioux City	12,867	181	2,833
13	Fremont	26,362	180	2,071
14	North Platte	23,734	148	2,730
15	Lexington	10,069	129	1,482
16	Wayne	5,603	128	674
17	Blair	7,830	125	848
18	Sidney	6,451	124	1,613
19	Schuyler	6,269	123	459
20	Nebraska City	7,270	120	1,123
21	Ralston	7,305	110	1,318
22	Bellevue	63,970	99	1,231
23	Columbus	23,291	85	1,012
24	Beatrice	12,282	81	904
25	Seward	7,210	78	731
26	La Vista	17,081	49	1,234
27	McCook	7,555	42	1,083
28	Papillion	24,310	34	1,038
29	Plattsmouth	6,453	15	770

Methodology

The AreaVibes list of the most dangerous cities in Nebraska is derived from the FBI's uniform crime reporting program (UCR Program) from their most recent release. To compile this list, we used violent crime data (assualt, robbery, rape and murder) per 100,000 people and only included Nebraska cities with a population of 5,000 or more. Displaying violent crime rates based on a population of 100,000 allows for an equal comparison for each city.

Map of Violent Crime By State

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Explore our interactive map to discover the most dangerous cities in each state across the USA. This map highlights the states with the highest crime rates, providing insights into the factors contributing to these statistics. From urban centers facing economic hardships to regions grappling with social challenges, the map offers a visual representation of crime hotspots. Click on each state to learn more about its most dangerous cities, the types of crimes most prevalent, and the underlying causes behind these issues.