Very AffordableSafer than AverageGRAND ISLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Hall Co Courthouse 6 · Brad Mellema / CC BY-SA 4.0Grand Island, Nebraska (1867) · Arundel C. Hull / Public domainNebraska - Benedict through Grant - NARA - 23942149 (cropped) · Unknown authorUnknown author or not provided / Public domainSthurmuseum · Visit Grand Island / CC BY 2.0
Grand Island is a mid-sized city of 52,822 in Nebraska, with a median household income of $59,061
and a 3.1% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 87 (US average = 100), which is
13% below the national average.
Strengths:
Grand Island stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Grand Island is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Grand Island city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 87.3
Grand Island's overall cost of living index is 87.3,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Grand Island costs roughly 13% less than the average American city.
Metric
Grand Island, NE
National Avg
Median Home Value
$183,700
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$886
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
58.6%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$59,061
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Grand Island's violent crime rate is 367.7 per 100,000 residents
— 3% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
367.7 /100k
Property Crime
1760.4 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Grand Island is served primarily by GRAND ISLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.5:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Grand Island, NE
National Avg
School District
GRAND ISLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS
—
Elementary Schools
14
—
Middle Schools
3
—
High Schools
4
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.5:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
20.9%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
83.1%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Grand Island sees average highs of 36.1°F in January
and 88.1°F in July,
with 28.6 inches of annual precipitation
and 27.7 inches of snow per year.
Grand Island's cost of living index is 87, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Grand Island roughly 13% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $183,700 and median rent is $886/month.
Grand Island's violent crime rate is 367.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1760.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Grand Island are operated by GRAND ISLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The district has 14 elementary, 3 middle, and 4 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.5:1. 20.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Grand Island, NE has a population of 52,822, a median household income of $59,061, and an unemployment rate of 3.1%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Grand Island averages 36.1°F in January and 88.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 28.6 inches
with about 27.7 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Grand Island, NE is covered by 2 ZIP codes: 68801, 68803.
The population of Grand Island, Nebraska is 52,822 with a median age of 35.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Grand Island: cost of living index 87 (100 = US average), median home $183,700, median household income $59,061, crime index 92 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Grand Island side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
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