Best Life Index › States › Nebraska › Cities › Grand Island

Nebraska city profile

What Is It Like to Live in Grand Island?

What it costs to live in Grand Island, and how it compares with other Nebraska cities, in plain numbers.

Value score

33

9th best value in Nebraska

How much you get for what you pay, versus other Nebraska cities.

Overall livability

39

8th overall in Nebraska

Cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life combined.

Grand Island is home to about 52,755 people. A typical home runs $157,400 and a household earns around $58,200, a price-to-income ratio of 2.7. Among Nebraska's largest cities, it ranks 9th for value and 8th overall.

Grand Island at a glance

Median home price

$157,400

8th in NE of 12

Median rent

$807/mo

Median household income

$58,200

Home price to income

2.7x

Unemployment

3.6%

8th in NE of 12

School rating

4/10

9th in NE of 12

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in NE of 12

Walk score

5/100

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‹ See all top Nebraska cities ranked  ยท  Nebraska state profile ›

Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income, unemployment and commute from the U.S. Census; school ratings from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. City rankings are within Nebraska only. Updated 2026.