How Nebraska Ranks

92.1%

Population 25+ with a High School Diploma

69.4%

2nd Highest Labor Force Participation Rate in the Nation

Best Overall States in America

Unemployment Rate

[X]
The percentage of the workforce that is unemployed. A person is classified as unemployed if they do not have a job, they have actively looked for work in the previous four weeks, and they are currently available for work.

3.0%

Source: USDOL, Bureau of Labor Statistics, June, 2025

Employment Growth

[X]
Employment growth indicates the rate of growth at which the state’s economy is filling new jobs and is determined by the 12 month percent change in the Quarterly Census of Employment Wages (QCEW) figures from the previous to the current year.

0.9%

Source: USDOL, Bureau of Labor Statistics, June, 2025

Per Capita Personal Income (PCI)

[X]
Per capita personal income (dollars) - This measure of income from all sources is calculated as the total personal income of the residents of an area divided by the population of the area. Per capita personal income is often used as an indicator of consumers' purchasing power and of the economic well-being of the residents of an area. (Last updated: March 22, 2018)

$71,859

Source: USDOC, Bureau of Economic Analysis, Updated March 28, 2025 for 2024

Average Annual Wage

[X]
The average annual wage for all industries in the private sector.

$64,064

Source: USDOL, Bureau of Labor Statistics, 4th Quarter, 2024

Poverty Rate

[X]
The percent of the population (all ages) living in poverty. The data here reflects the federal government's official poverty definition.

10.5%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2023

Growth in Real GDP (Quarterly)

[X]
The percent growth in a state's quarterly output, which is the sum of value added from all industries in the state; seasonally adjusted at annual rates.

-6.1%

Source: USDOC, Bureau of Economic Analysis 1st Qtr 2025

Labor Force Participation Rate

[X]
The percent of the persons who are 16 years of age or older, who are not inmates of institutions (e.g., penal and mental facilities, homes for the aged), and who are not on active duty in the Armed Forces who are employed or unemployed, but looking for work.

69.4%

Source: USDOL, Bureau of Labor Statistics, June, 2025

Hardest-Working States in America

[X]
The total score represents the hardest working states in the U.S. with 100 being the hardest working state by comparing 50 states with 10 different key indicators.

59.97

Source: WalletHub August, 2024

Growth in Real GDP (Quarterly, 5 Years)

[X]
The percent growth in a state's quarterly output, which is the sum of value added from all industries in the state; in chained 2017 dollars to compare real growth by quarter over 5 years.

15.95%

Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Reported by Forbes, 1st Qtr 2024

Farm Cash Receipts Per Capita

[X]
The total cash receipts per capita for statewide production of all agricultural commodities in 2023, expressed in nominal dollars. Nebraska ranks #1 in the country.

$15,765

Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Updated Feb 6, 2025 for 2023

States Where New Businesses are Most Likely to Succeed

[X]
The total score represents the likelihood of new businesses surviving their early years, with 100 being the most likely to succeed. The index is based on a weighted average of private-sector establishments' survival rates throughout each of their first 3 years, using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Business Employment Dynamics.

72.1

Source: Simply Business, December 2024

Best States for Infrastructure

[X]
States' quality of infrastructure is rated on 9 metrics across the subcategories of Energy, Internet Access, and Transportation using data from various federal government sources.

Source: U.S. News & World Report, May 2025

Power Grid Reliability

[X]
This metric reflects the number of minutes of power outages the average customer experiences in a year, based on data from the Department of Energy. Average total lengths – excluding major events – in a state can range from under an hour to multiple hours over the course of a year. The power grid reliability metric is one of many that factor into the overall Best States rankings.

Source: U.S. News & World Report, May 2025

Lowest Priced Electricity

[X]
This ranking compares states by the average price of electricity delivered to ultimate customers by sector, measured in cents per kilowatt-hour. The overall rank compares all sectors combined.

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, April 2025

3rd Grade Reading

[X]
The percentage of 3rd grade students who score at or above the proficient standard on the Nebraska Student-Centered Assessment System (NSCAS) English language arts assessment.

59%

Standards Vary state to state gray circle

Source: Nebraska Department of Education, 2024

7th Grade Math

[X]
The percentage of 7th grade students who score at or above the proficient standard on the Nebraska Student-Centered Assessment System (NSCAS) mathematics assessment.

55%

Source: Nebraska Department of Education, 2024

ACT College and Career Readiness Benchmark

[X]
The percentage of ACT-tested graduates in Nebraska (both public and private school students) who meet or exceed the College Readiness Benchmark score in all four subjects: English, math, reading, and science. The National Average is 21%.

19%

Source: 2024 Nebraska Higher Education Progress Report, Nebraska Department of Education, 2023 Data

High School Grad Rate

[X]
Percentage based on Nebraska Department of Education formula.

88.18%

Source: Nebraska Education Profile, Nebraska Department of Education 2024

Percent of Population 25+ with a Bachelors' Degree or Higher

[X]
The percent of the population age 25 or older, whose highest level of education is a bachelors' degree or higher.

34.1%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2019-2023 American Community Survey

Percent of Population 25+ with a High School Diploma

[X]
The percent of the population age 25 or older with a high school diploma.

92.1%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2019-2023 American Community Survey

Early Education System

[X]
The total score represents the best early education system in the U.S. with 100 being the best early education system by comparing 50 states across 12 key metrics, including share of the school districts that offer a state pre-K program, number of pre-K quality benchmarks met and total reported spending per child enrolled in pre-K.

74.46

Source: WalletHub July, 2024

School System

[X]
The total score represents the best school system in the U.S. with 100 being the best school system by comparing 50 states across 32 key metrics.

58.31

Source: WalletHub July, 2024

States People Are Flocking To

[X]
This measure indicates the net direction of all local and long-distance moves in the United States booked through HireAHelper and its affiliates in 2024. Net gains and losses are expressed as a percentage of all moves, rather than by population change, and include additional data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

13.6%

Source: HireAHelper, January 2025

Most Financially Literate States

[X]
The ranking aims to identify and rank financial literacy across the United States, using data from 9 metrics. Each category's weighting is based on its significance to financial literacy and access. Nebraska ranked #1 of 50 states in 2024.

Source: Credit Secrets, 2024

Most Financially Literate States

[X]
The ranking aims to identify and rank financial literacy across the United States, using data from 17 metrics across 3 key dimensions. Each metric's weighting is based on its significance to financial literacy, habits, and education. Nebraska ranked #3 of 50 states in 2025.

Source: Wallet Hub, 2025

States With the Best High Schools Budgeting Education

[X]
The ranking aims to evaluate states by their high schools' budgeting education, using data from 11 metrics across 2 dimensions. Each metric's weighting is based on its relevance to educational outcomes and growth.

Source: Wallet Hub, 2025

Children's Economic Well-Being

[X]
Part of the annual Annie E. Casey Foundation KIDS COUNT index, this ranking aims to identify and rank children's economic well-being across the United States. Using data from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey, the study scored all 50 states on metrics related to family poverty, employment, housing costs, and teen participation in school and work. States were then ranked based on the standardized scores.

Source: The Annie E. Casey Foundation, 2025

Bond Rating – Moody’s

[X]
A grade given to a state government by a credit rating agency that expresses its opinion about a government's ability to meet its financial obligations in full and on time. Each of the two credit rating agencies (Moody's and Standard & Poor's) give letter designations to indicate a state government's credit worthiness. An Aa2 rating by Moody indicates the investment grade is rated high quality and very low credit risk with the best ability to repay short-term debt.

Aaa

Source: KLKN, 2025

Bond Rating – S&P’s

[X]
A grade given to a state government by a credit rating agency that expresses its opinion about a government's ability to meet its financial obligations in full and on time. Each of the two credit rating agencies (Moody's and Standard & Poor's) give letter designations to indicate a state government's credit worthiness. An AAA is the highest rating given by S&P and indicates the extremely strong capacity to meeting financial commitments.

AAA

Source: State of Nebraska Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, 2024

State Tax Supported Debt as a Per Capita

[X]
A measurement of the value of a state government's debt expressed in terms of each citizen's share of the debt.

$20

Source: Moody's Investor Service State Debt Medians 2015, April 2018

Rainy Day Fund (as % of expenditures)

[X]
The cash reserve or amount of money (as a percent of expenditures) that the government sets aside to deal with budget shortfalls in years where revenues do not match expenditures.

17.2%

Source: The Fiscal Survey of States, National Association of State Budget Officers, 2024

Taxes Per Capita

[X]
The total amount of taxes per capita based on population data from the 2017 census and 2016 personal income data from BEA. This data includes state taxes only.

$3,703

Source: U.S.Census Bureau State Tax Collections Per Capita, 2023

Best States for Fiscal Stability

[X]
States' fiscal stability is rated on 4 metrics between Long-Term and Short-Term fiscal indicators using data from Moody's and The Pew Charitable Trusts.

Source: U.S. News & World Report, May 2025

Violent Crime Rate (per 100,000)

[X]
Violent crime is composed of four offenses: murder and non-negligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. Violent crimes are defined in the Uniform Crime Reports (UCR) Program as those offenses which involve force or threat of force.

229.7

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation Crime Data Explorer, 2023

Property Crime Rate (per 100,000)

[X]
Property crime includes the offenses of burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson. The object of the theft-type offenses is the taking of money or property, but there is no force or threat of force against the victims.

1,976.1

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation Crime Data Explorer, 2023

Recidivism

[X]
Recidivism is defined as the percentage of inmates released to the community (either on parole or discharged) and returned NDCS for new crimes or for technical violations within three years of their release date.

28.47%

Source: Nebraska Department of Corrections Datasheet, Q1 2025

Traffic Fatalities per 100 Million Vehicle Miles Traveled

[X]
The number of traffic fatalities per hundred million vehicle miles traveled within a year.

1.15

Source: U.S. Department of Transportation 2022 Traffic Safety Fact Sheet, Released 2024

Overall Health Ranking

[X]
A ranking developed by America’s Health Rankings that accounts for both outcomes and determinants using 22 different measures. Each measure is assigned a weight that determines its percentage of the overall score.

Source: America's Health Rankings 2024 Annual Report

Smoking

[X]
The percent of the population over age 18 that smokes on a regular basis.

13.0%

Source: Centers for Disease Control BRFSS Prevalence & Trends Data, 2022

Obesity

[X]
The percent of adults categorized as obese. An adult is considered obese if their body mass index (BMI) is 30 or greater.

35.3%

Source: Centers for Disease Control BRFSS Prevalence & Trends Data, 2022

Infant Mortality

[X]
The number of infant deaths per 1,000 births.

5.8

Source: Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, 2022

Immunization Coverage

[X]
The National Immunization Survey (NIS) measures the percentage of children in Nebraska and nationally between 19 and 35 months of age who have been completely vaccinated against 7 serious diseases: by the year 2020, the national goal is for 80% of these children to be completely vaccinated.

85.7%

Source: Centers for Disease Control National Immunization Survey-Child, 2023

Teen Birth Rate

[X]
The number of births per 1,000 women age 15 to 19.

13.1

Source: National Vital Statistics Report, CDC, 2023

Average Time to Adoption (in months)

[X]
The average number of months between termination of parental rights and adoption finalization.

10.2

Source: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Children's Bureau, 2022

Mental Health

[X]
U.S. News ranked states on best mental health by examining the age-adjusted percentage of adults in each state who reported poor mental health in at least 14 of the last 30 days, based on survey data available through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This metric factors into the overall Best States ranking.

Source: U.S. News & World Report, May 2025

Best States to Raise a Family

[X]
The total score represents the best states in the U.S. to raise a family, with 100 being the most favorable, comparing 50 states across 50 different key indicators.

61.03

Source: WalletHub, January 2025

Happiest States in the Nation

[X]
The total score represents the happiest states in the U.S., with 100 indicating maximum happiness, using weighted averages of 30 different key indicators for all 50 states.

58.6

Source: WalletHub, September 2024

Best Overall States in America

[X]
The ranking shows how well each state serves its residents in a variety of ways, using data from 71 metrics across 8 categories - including Health Care, Education, Economy, Infrastructure, Opportunity, Fiscal Stability, Crime and Corrections, and Natural Environment. Each category's weighting is based on respondents' priorities from 3 years of national survey data.

Source: U.S. News & World Report, May 2025

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