What Is The Worst Town In Nebraska? (Omaha, Lincoln: home, rent)

[ehenningsen]

all bigger cities have higher crime than the national average, because that is where most of the action is...

Omaha compared to the rest of the big cities is doing very well..

I think the Omaha and lincoln metro counties should secede from Nebraska and join Iowa, that way the rest of Nebraska would actually see exactly how well they do without us....

[someguyfromnebraska]

Originally Posted by ehenningsen

all bigger cities have higher crime than the national average, because that is where most of the action is...

Omaha compared to the rest of the big cities is doing very well..

I think the Omaha and lincoln metro counties should secede from Nebraska and join Iowa, that way the rest of Nebraska would actually see exactly how well they do without us....

I second that!!! and yes Omaha is doing allright for it's size as I noted earlier they have been getting better and better while continuing to grow which is impressive. remember that Omaha is in NE and is fed largely by...... Rural NE. That doesn't change the fact that it still has probably the highest per capita rate of crime in the state (I didn't fully research that comment, just a semieducated guess) As far as cities go of course I would take Omaha over Denver, or KC, or any other actual "Big City" I've ever been to. So from what I have seen I would put Omaha #1 on the "Big City" list but a definate last place in NE.

[DTO Luv]

OF course it's going to have the highest crime rate in the state. The next biggest city after omaha is still short by 200,000 people. Omaha is going to be the most whatever per capita purely based on size.

[MattDen]

2005 Violent Crime rates:
Lincoln 574 per 100,000
Omaha 565 per 100,000


Actually, Lincoln has a higher violent crime rate then Omaha for 2005 I dont have the exact numbers but I was shocked. Lincoln has alot of assaults that cause its violent crime rate to be the highest in the state for 2005. So the risk of violent crime is actually lower in Omaha then Lincoln.

I will say Omaha with a population of 425,000 people having anywhere
from 20-35 homicides a year on average is not high. Its not the lowest, but is still below average for a city of its size. They have cities Omaha's size that have over 100 homicides typically year after year.
I think alot of neighborhoods in Omaha tend to look rougher then they actually are, I think Omaha could be more aggressive with reducing blight however.

I do have to admit after talking to many people in the state even though I think Omaha could be much more vibrant they are by far the most polite people in the state are in Omaha.

The people mainly college students from western and central Nebraska tend to stay in their groups afraid that they will learn something new or meet a new person. I have noticed people from Eastern Nebraska (Norfolk, Falls City, Beatrice) dont have the attitude issue for meeting new people like Western and Central Nebraskans do.


I am not a big traveler but I have lived in 5 states and taken lots of road trips and Western and Central Nebraska has the rudest, most arrogant and least pleasent people I have ever met. Rural Eastern Nebraska doesnt have that problem, its more Central and West. Although the whole state could be more receptive to new ideas and meeting new people.

I remember one night I was in the Haymarket and these people drove their truck up from central Nebraska to try to start fights in Lincoln. Also, UNL with a large international students means it has some diversity and alot of rural Nebraskans who come here like to make comments about people who are from other countries and dont look exactly or act exactly like them.

Ive lived in Nebraska for 7 months now and even though Omaha and Lincoln have some issues with blight that need to be fixed, they have the resources to do it at least Omahans and Lincolnites tend to treat people like human beings even though they could be more receptive and open-minded instead of treating people with zero respect and tons of arrogance like Central and Western Nebraskans do.

I really wish the legislature would cut central and western Omaha off from state subsidies and use those extra resources to renovate Omaha and lessen the blight in some of the neighborhoods. After all Omaha's good will and money towards the western half of the state seems to have been met with its legendary arrogance.

[kosnebbear]

Where did you come up with these numbers MattDen? If you go to the city-data.com web page that shows you the numbers you will find that the assaults in Lincoln, population reported is 225,500, for 2005 were 1,023 or about 453.5 per 100,000. In Omaha, population reported is about 390,000, they had 1,415 or about 362.8 per 100,000 for this same time. Then look at your beloved great city of Denver, Colorado, population of 558,000 they had 2,673 assaults or about 481.9 per 100,000. Looks like Denver is a much more violent place to live in to me. Guess that is why you moved out and boy living in Nebraska now for seven months makes you more of an expert on Nebraska than say me who has made Nebraska their home now for over 57 years. No I have not lived in Nebraska the entire time, but I have always returned to Nebraska. When are you leaving Nebraska as it is so bad of a place to live in? Besides the country boys have always gone into town to get into fights with the city boys? We did it when I was a teenager as well only I was one of the city boys. Some of the times we small city boys would get together with the country boys and go to a bigger city for a change.

[someguyfromnebraska]

I've lived in this state for almost 3 decades, I've lived in the small towns and the cities and traveled alot. just like pretty much every other state I've ever been to the bigger the city the more people "rat race" which tends to cause opposition and competion rather than teamwork and cooperation. sometimes country boys get restless and fight, and sometimes city boys get restless and fight. If you walk into a little cafe in rural NE and expect a 5 star resturant your gonna be very dissapointed. If your rude to waitress she might just let ya know. There won't be any fake smiles. For people like me that's what I want to see, I'd rather she tell me all about how she feels than throw on a fake smile and spit in my food. I never said we were nice to everyone. We tend to speak our minds. A resturaunt in rural NE is not just a place of buisness, it's like a 2nd home for the people that work there, often the people there working own the resturaunt, their guests are often times their friends and if they don't already know you they still treat you like a friend, we speak our minds to our friends and we speak our minds to our guests. many people like this. some don't they would rather the waitress throw them a fake smile, overcharge them and spit in their food than be told the straight truth. lincoln and omaha aren't bad for "big cities" KC and Denver make them look like the safest, friendliest places in the world. So back to the question what is the worst town in NE? Who really cares? Different strokes for different folks, the little towns feed the big cities. so ALL THAT REALLY MATTERS IS THAT YOUR IN NEBRASKA, and if you don't like it don't try to come in from outside and change it, it's not gonna work, go some place where there are others like you, and be happy with them.

[VsWebCraft]

Can't say I know of a *worst* town in Nebraska... I've lived in Southeast Nebraska & don't plan on moving. It's nice & the people are great!

[slinky1947]

Can't relate to worst.... Born in New Orleans but lived in South Sioux City for about 5 years as a youngster. They are my fondest memories. My sister and I reminisce quite often. We talk about visiting to see how much it may have changed. My grandparents lived on a farm in Bassett. They are gone now but the farm is still there and intact. Oh what memories of a simpler time. Nebraska will always have a huge place in my heart.

[Gretchen B]

Originally Posted by someguyfromnebraska

IIf you walk into a little cafe in rural NE and expect a 5 star resturant your gonna be very dissapointed. If your rude to waitress she might just let ya know. There won't be any fake smiles. For people like me that's what I want to see, I'd rather she tell me all about how she feels than throw on a fake smile and spit in my food. I never said we were nice to everyone. We tend to speak our minds. A resturaunt in rural NE is not just a place of buisness, it's like a 2nd home for the people that work there, often the people there working own the resturaunt, their guests are often times their friends and if they don't already know you they still treat you like a friend, we speak our minds to our friends and we speak our minds to our guests. many people like this. some don't they would rather the waitress throw them a fake smile, overcharge them and spit in their food than be told the straight truth.

Great post! Having lived in western and central Nebraska for over 20 years and Denver for 8 and Phoenix for 1, I totally agree. I love the people of Nebraska (although you're going to find some grumps and strange characters no matter where you go). Personally, I don't think you'll find such down-to-earth, caring people in the cities (again, there are some in the big cities, too, but people there just tend to be busier and more business-like in general). In the city you feel like you need an appt before you stop in to see a friend. In Nebraska, you knock once on the back screen door before you yell, "Hey, Judy, what ya' up to" as you open the door and go on in.

Oh, and by the way, the Nebraska cafes may not be 5 star eateries, but I have had some really GREAT home cookin' (best pies anywhere) in some of those "mom & pop" places. Plus, I do happen to know of a couple of truly gourmet restaurants in rural Nebraska, too.

[livinitupinneb]

I live in Central Nebraska and tell you the truth i have never really been to Western Nebraska. I've just drove on I-80 to Denver that is all I have got to see of Western Nebraska. I am currently living in Broken Bow Nebraska, and the city is just know starting to add more things. There have been talk about a viaduct but the people arent to excited about that. We are getting a Viero Wireless, and I have heard talk about getting a Runza and a Taco Johns. The only problem I have with Broken Bow is Adams Land and Cattle. Adams Land and Cattle, during the summer, gets so bad that the city has dust and smells like Cow you know what lol. Other than that I am having no problems with Broken Bow.