Around Grand Island?? (Lincoln, Kearney, Hastings: rentals, house, elementary school)

[somwhere??]

Well we are coming out there in a few weeks, my husband has a job offer there. We have never been to NE so we dont know what to expect. If anyone can give me any areas good and bad so we know where to look I would appreciate it. We are wanting to rent a house for at least a year, we have school age kids so schools are important too.. any opinions would be great! thanks!!

[lisalynn]

Where are you moving from and can I ask what is your husbands job offer?
What ages are your kids and are they in any extra curricular activities?
You can go online at the Grand Island Independent and look at rentals there, there is also a company called action property management.

[jkiss]

I am originally from GI. Depends on what you are looking for. From what I hear from my relatives that currently live there it has changed alot over the last few years and not in a good way. People tend to be narrow minded and not accepting of diversity. My older 3 children all went to Wasmer elementry and it was a good school. Hope you like it though. NE will always be home to me.

[somwhere??]

We will b moving from IN, and our kids r both in elementary school, so they have been involved in sports but nothing to drastic. Just wondering if there was a certain town anyone would suggest for us to look in.thanks

[lisalynn]

I live in Grand Island and just like any town it has its share of problems. I enjoy living in Grand Island. Hike and bike trails, water park, plenty of parks, moderate shopping and grocery stores and restarants to choose from.
I would try to stay away from the Lincoln School area, seems like the police do get called to that area quite alot.
I walk after dark in the area that I live in, I have never had a reason to doubt my safety.
Some of the smaller towns in this area are Wood River, Aurora, Central City, Doniphan and Hastings.
Good luck in your search and welcome to Nebraska.

[karlysue]

I'm a college student in Hastings, and I've only been to Grand Island a few times... but I've never heard bad things about it. Personally, I like going into Grand Island because it's one of those cities that isn't TOO big and overwhelming, but you can get all your shopping done there without making a trip somewhere else. I have no idea about the school systems and safety around there, or here for that matter, but like I said, I haven't heard bad things yet.

I like it a lot in Hastings, but I know that several people in my college can't stand it because they're from places like Denver and Colorado Springs or other big cities and this is just too small for them. I'm from a tiny town so Hastings and Grand Island seem big to me!

Hastings, Kearney, and Grand Island are the biggest towns you'll see that are relatively close to each other... there are several little towns around, though... it just depends on whether you're willing to live in a tiny town.

[Omahahonors]

Originally Posted by somwhere??

Well we are coming out there in a few weeks, my husband has a job offer there. We have never been to NE so we dont know what to expect. If anyone can give me any areas good and bad so we know where to look I would appreciate it. We are wanting to rent a house for at least a year, we have school age kids so schools are important too.. any opinions would be great! thanks!!

Grand Island is growing about a thousand people per year, which is pretty good growth for a city of around 50,000 people.

Grand Island isn't growing just to grow. This city is capturing some very nice industries that pay an aweful lot. Kearney is the same way on a lesser scale.

There are some amateur sports in the area that are typical of metropolitan areas of a 150,000 or greater. Grand Island is a part of the three core economic area of 165,000.

It is going to be considered a metropolitan area in the next year or two by the OMB, and the city just seems to grow (good growth) faster every year. This is a core city for a very large region, and you will see that in the city limits.