Racial diversity in Nebraska is a mixed bag.
There are parts of Nebraska where there’s a high level of diversity. But where will you find the most diverse places in Nebraska?
To answer that question, we went to the US Census data. Using Saturday Night Science, we measured the Gini coefficient for all 32 cities in Nebraska to rank them from most to least diverse.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
Here are the 10 most diverse places in Nebraska for 2024:
So what city is the most diverse in Nebraska? According to the most Census data, South Sioux City took the number one over all spot for diversity in Nebraska.
Read on below to see how we crunched the numbers and how your town ranked. To see where Nebraska ranked as a state, we have a ranking of the most diverse states in Ameria.
For more Nebraska reading:
The 10 Most Diverse Places In Nebraska For 2024
/10
Population: 13,835
HHI: 3,558
% White: 32.5%
% African American: 10.6%
% Hispanic: 48.6%
% Asian: 2.8%
More on South Sioux City: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 7,093
HHI: 4,331
% White: 51.3%
% African American: 1.4%
% Hispanic: 41.0%
% Asian: 4.8%
More on Crete: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 489,201
HHI: 4,625
% White: 65.1%
% African American: 11.8%
% Hispanic: 14.8%
% Asian: 4.0%
More on Omaha: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 52,822
HHI: 4,671
% White: 59.2%
% African American: 3.5%
% Hispanic: 34.0%
% Asian: 1.1%
More on Grand Island: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 10,662
HHI: 4,695
% White: 19.0%
% African American: 13.4%
% Hispanic: 64.4%
% Asian: 1.0%
More on Lexington: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 63,336
HHI: 4,984
% White: 67.9%
% African American: 5.7%
% Hispanic: 18.0%
% Asian: 3.3%
More on Bellevue: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 14,454
HHI: 4,997
% White: 64.0%
% African American: 0.5%
% Hispanic: 29.9%
% Asian: 0.7%
More on Scottsbluff: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 6,516
HHI: 5,475
% White: 19.2%
% African American: 5.0%
% Hispanic: 71.2%
% Asian: 0.0%
More on Schuyler: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 8,582
HHI: 5,521
% White: 69.2%
% African American: 1.2%
% Hispanic: 27.0%
% Asian: 0.5%
More on Gering: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 24,035
HHI: 5,856
% White: 72.5%
% African American: 0.6%
% Hispanic: 24.5%
% Asian: 0.5%
More on Columbus: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Methodology: How we determined the most diverse cities in Nebraska for 2024
We still believe in the accuracy of data — especially from the Census — and Saturday Night Science. So that’s where we went to get the race breakdown across Nebraska.
That leads us to the Census’s most recently available data, the 2018-2022 American Community Survey data from the US Census.
Specifically, we looked at table B03002: HISPANIC OR LATINO ORIGIN BY RACE. Here are the category names as defined by the Census:
- White alone*
- Black or African American alone*
- American Indian and Alaska Native alone*
- Asian alone*
- Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone*
- Some other race alone*
- Two or more races*
- Hispanic or Latino
We limited our analysis to non-CDPs with a population greater than 5,000 people. That left us with 32 cities.
We then calculated the HHI for each city by finding the racial breakdown of a city in percent terms, squaring them, and then adding the squares together. This left us with scores ranging from 3,558 (South Sioux City) to 8,937 (Blair).
Finally, we ranked each city based on the HHI, with a lower score being more diverse than a high score. South Sioux City took the distinction of being the most diverse, while Blair was the least diverse city.
We updated this article for 2024. This report is our tenth time ranking the most diverse places in Nebraska.
Summary: Diversity Across Nebraska
If you’re looking for a scientific breakdown of diversity across Nebraska, this is an accurate list.
The most diverse cities in Nebraska are South Sioux City, Crete, Omaha, Grand Island, Lexington, Bellevue, Scottsbluff, Schuyler, Gering, and Columbus.
If you’re curious enough, here are the least diverse places in Nebraska:
- Blair
- Seward
- Beatrice
For more Nebraska reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In Nebraska
- Cheapest Places To Live In Nebraska
- Most Dangerous Cities In Nebraska
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Nebraska
- Safest Places In Nebraska
- Worst Places To Live In Nebraska
Race By City In Nebraska For 2024
| Rank | City | Population | HHI | % White | % Black | % Hispanic | % Asian |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Sioux City, NE | 13,835 | 3,558 | 32.5% | 10.6% | 48.6% | 2.8% |
| 2 | Crete, NE | 7,093 | 4,331 | 51.3% | 1.4% | 41.0% | 4.8% |
| 3 | Omaha, NE | 489,201 | 4,625 | 65.1% | 11.8% | 14.8% | 4.0% |
| 4 | Grand Island, NE | 52,822 | 4,671 | 59.2% | 3.5% | 34.0% | 1.1% |
| 5 | Lexington, NE | 10,662 | 4,695 | 19.0% | 13.4% | 64.4% | 1.0% |
| 6 | Bellevue, NE | 63,336 | 4,984 | 67.9% | 5.7% | 18.0% | 3.3% |
| 7 | Scottsbluff, NE | 14,454 | 4,997 | 64.0% | 0.5% | 29.9% | 0.7% |
| 8 | Schuyler, NE | 6,516 | 5,475 | 19.2% | 5.0% | 71.2% | 0.0% |
| 9 | Gering, NE | 8,582 | 5,521 | 69.2% | 1.2% | 27.0% | 0.5% |
| 10 | Columbus, NE | 24,035 | 5,856 | 72.5% | 0.6% | 24.5% | 0.5% |
| 11 | Ralston, NE | 6,462 | 6,125 | 76.6% | 4.3% | 15.4% | 0.0% |
| 12 | Lincoln, NE | 290,531 | 6,205 | 78.0% | 4.0% | 8.3% | 4.5% |
| 13 | Nebraska City, NE | 7,257 | 6,422 | 78.6% | 1.4% | 14.5% | 0.1% |
| 14 | La Vista, NE | 16,713 | 6,424 | 79.2% | 5.2% | 10.6% | 1.9% |
| 15 | Alliance, NE | 8,118 | 6,514 | 79.7% | 4.5% | 11.8% | 0.8% |
| 16 | Fremont, NE | 27,230 | 6,515 | 79.0% | 0.7% | 16.2% | 0.3% |
| 17 | Norfolk, NE | 25,883 | 6,531 | 79.5% | 1.0% | 14.3% | 1.0% |
| 18 | Hastings, NE | 25,098 | 6,775 | 81.1% | 0.6% | 13.9% | 1.4% |
| 19 | Kearney, NE | 33,809 | 7,024 | 83.1% | 1.1% | 10.4% | 2.2% |
| 20 | North Platte, NE | 23,309 | 7,197 | 84.1% | 1.5% | 11.2% | 0.9% |
| 21 | Sidney, NE | 6,407 | 7,370 | 85.2% | 1.6% | 10.3% | 1.2% |
| 22 | Plattsmouth, NE | 6,585 | 7,415 | 85.6% | 0.3% | 8.1% | 0.5% |
| 23 | Papillion, NE | 24,016 | 7,430 | 85.8% | 2.5% | 6.8% | 1.7% |
| 24 | Wayne, NE | 5,973 | 7,472 | 85.9% | 2.1% | 9.7% | 0.4% |
| 25 | Chadron, NE | 5,255 | 7,570 | 86.7% | 3.7% | 2.8% | 1.4% |
| 26 | Holdrege, NE | 5,494 | 7,772 | 87.7% | 0.9% | 8.8% | 0.1% |
| 27 | Mccook, NE | 7,412 | 8,314 | 91.0% | 1.0% | 4.5% | 0.0% |
| 28 | York, NE | 8,101 | 8,321 | 91.1% | 0.4% | 4.4% | 1.0% |
| 29 | Gretna, NE | 9,019 | 8,440 | 91.7% | 0.2% | 4.1% | 0.2% |
| 30 | Beatrice, NE | 12,237 | 8,501 | 92.1% | 1.1% | 3.8% | 1.0% |
| 31 | Seward, NE | 7,667 | 8,760 | 93.5% | 0.5% | 4.2% | 0.5% |
| 32 | Blair, NE | 7,813 | 8,937 | 94.5% | 1.1% | 2.1% | 0.3% |