In general, Nebraska is one of the safer states in the country, but some amount of crime exists in every state. According to data from the FBI’s Crime in the United States report, these 10 cities are the most dangerous cities in Nebraska. They experienced the most reported crime in Nebraska in 2018 (the most recent year for which information is available). The data is broken down by violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, and assault) and property crimes (theft, burglary, arson, and motor vehicle theft). The FBI only reported information for cities with more than 5000 residents. To provide an even comparison between the cities’ vastly different populations, the reported crime rate for each city is listed as incidents per 100,000 people.

Please note: while these cities are “dangerous” according to crime statistics, rest assured that they are all still great places to live. Go Big Red!

1. Omaha
Omaha, NE, USA
shannonpatrick17 / CC via Wikimedia
We bet no one is too surprised by this one. Omaha is both the most populous city and the largest tourist destination in Nebraska. Violent crimes have been steadily increasing each year, with assault being the most common type. Still, just because it is technically the most dangerous city in Nebraska, don't be too afraid of Omaha - just be aware of your surroundings and avoid the sketchy neighborhoods.

Violent crimes: 559 per 100,000

Property crimes: 3,475 per 100,000
2. North Platte
North Platte, NE 69101, USA
Smallbones / Public domain via Wikimedia
North Platte - population 23,774 - could use a little damage control, it seems. It ranks as the most dangerous city in Nebraska for property crimes and 4th most dangerous for violent crimes.

Violent crimes: 408 per 100,000

Property crimes: 4,231 per 100,000
3. Grand Island
Grand Island, NE, USA
By Zancar - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia
Grand Island, home of the Stuhr Museum and the Nebraska State Fair, sees far more visitors every year than other towns of its size. The population of 51,768 sees hundreds of thousands of people passing through each summer. We're not pointing fingers here, but maybe that impacts the crime rate in Grand Island.

Violent crimes: 465 per 100,000

Property crimes: 2,907 per 100,000
4. Nebraska City
Nebraska City, NE 68410, USA
Nebraska City
Say it ain't so! Nebraska City, home of the annual Applejack Festival and tons of other fun things to do, is also the fourth most dangerous city in Nebraska.

Violent crimes: 396 per 100,000

Property crimes: 3,020 per 100,000
5. Scottsbluff
Scottsbluff, NE 69361, USA
Flyingkow at English Wikipedia / Public domain
The beautiful western Nebraska town of Scottsbluff sees a lot of folks passing through on their way to or from the Scotts Bluff National Monument, but you can't blame all of the crime on tourists. Don't be afraid to visit, though - this is one of those places that every Nebraskan needs to see!

Violent crimes: 343 per 100,000

Property crimes: 3.032 per 100,000

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6. Lincoln
Lincoln, NE, USA
Capitolist / CC BY-SA via Wikimedia
Are you surprised to see Lincoln- the capital city - and the second-most populous city in the state - so far down on the list? Like any mid-size city, there is some crime, but the rates have been declining in recent years.

Violent crimes: 362 per 100,000

Property crimes: 2,878 per 100,000
7. Hastings
Hastings, NE, USA
Ammodramus / Public Domain via Wikimedia
Hastings, Nebraska, another college town, has a smaller population but higher crime rate than Kearney. The 24,963 people who live here can be proud to know that the city has the lowest reported violent crime rate on this list.

Violent crimes: 204 per 100,000

Property crimes: 3,324 per 100,000
8. Beatrice
Beatrice, NE 68310, USA
Beatrice Murch / CC via Wikimedia
Sweet little Beatrice, Nebraska, home of the Homestead National Monument of America, comes in at #8. This town of 12,244 is on the smaller side, but residents and visitors do experience a fair amount of crime (compared to other places in Nebraska).

Violent crimes: 269 per 100,000

Property crimes: 2,393 per 100,000
9. Kearney
Kearney, NE, USA
Chris Light / CC BY-SA via Wikimedia
The college town of Kearney, Nebraska has a population of 34,261. Violent crime is pretty low, but be sure to lock your car doors because there were 801 property crimes reported in 2018.

Violent crimes: 248 per 100,000

Property crimes: 2337 per 100,000
10. Crete
Crete, NE 68333, USA
Ammodramus / CC0 via Wikimedia
The town of Crete, Nebraska in Saline County has more crime than you might expect from a city of its size. With a population of 7,185, Crete comes in last place on this list.

Violent crimes: 501 per 100,000

Property crimes: 1,628 per 100,000

The crime in Nebraska shouldn’t tarnish your opinion of our beautiful state. While many cities have places that might be considered dangerous places to avoid in Nebraska, they all have many redeeming qualities! To even out this somewhat depressing subject, check out this list of the best things about living in Nebraska.

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More to Explore

Most Dangerous Cities in Nebraska

Danielle Schwartz | August 04, 2022

What are the safest cities in Nebraska?

Now that you've learned all about the so-called most dangerous cities in our state, you might find yourself curious about where the best places to visit or live are. The safest cities in Nebraska include some very small towns that will make you feel right at home. With 600 people, Stuart is a great place to live and has a fun and relaxed reputation. There is very little crime here, so you'll be sure to feel safe. It's the safest town in Nebraska. The second safest is lovely Atkinson, which has a population of about 1,250 residents. It's an excellent place to settle down with your family.

What are the best small towns in Nebraska?

When you're looking for a fun getaway, there's nothing better than a weekend spent in any of the best small towns in Nebraska. If you're a fan of historic buildings, check out Aurora. You'll love the charming atmosphere. Chadron is a special town because it not only has a sweet main street with cute shops and restaurants, but also features great natural beauty. Check out Chadron State Park or any of the other local forests or parks for a beautiful foray into the great outdoors.

What are the oldest towns in Nebraska?

Nebraska has lots of history packed into its towns, and if you love learning about the state's past, you'll be glad you visited any of the oldest towns in Nebraska. Brownville features beautiful old buildings and is a cool spot to visit. It's unique because it's so tiny- only 130 people call it home. And you can check out Nemaha for some amazing history. This town was actually a station on the Underground Railroad! That’s not something you see every day, and it’s an honor that the town is proud to have.

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