Nebraska Crime Rate & Safety (2024)
FBI-verified crime statistics | Population: 1,144,293 | 0 reporting agencies
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Total Crime Rate
Nebraska Crime Overview
In 2024, Nebraska reported a total crime rate of 2,778.5 per 100,000 residents — 1% near the national average of 2,752.3. This ranks Nebraska #28 out of 50 states (safest first).
The most elevated crime category in Nebraska is rape at 1.3x the national rate.
Compared to the previous year, Nebraska's crime rate increased by 26.7%, with violent crime up 38.1%.
Within the state, Beatrice is the safest city (crime rate: 905), while Omaha has the highest rate (3,534).
Crime Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 3,576 | 312.5 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 30 | 2.6 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 645 | 56.4 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 389 | 34.0 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 2,488 | 217.4 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 28,218 | 2,466.0 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 2,489 | 217.5 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 21,183 | 1,851.2 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 4,546 | 397.3 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Cities in Nebraska by Crime Rate
Cities ranked from safest to most dangerous (population 10,000+).
| # | City | Population | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Safety Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beatrice | 12,272 | 904.5 | 81.5 | 83/100 |
| 2 | Columbus | 24,595 | 1,012.4 | 85.4 | 81/100 |
| 3 | Papillion | 23,597 | 1,038.3 | 33.9 | 81/100 |
| 4 | Bellevue | 63,510 | 1,231.3 | 99.2 | 77/100 |
| 5 | Lavista | 16,205 | 1,234.2 | 49.4 | 77/100 |
| 6 | Norfolk | 26,234 | 1,345.6 | 202.0 | 75/100 |
| 7 | Lexington | 10,867 | 1,490.8 | 138.0 | 72/100 |
| 8 | Kearney | 34,525 | 1,926.1 | 301.2 | 65/100 |
| 9 | Fremont | 27,767 | 2,070.8 | 180.1 | 62/100 |
| 10 | Grand Island | 52,488 | 2,130.0 | 369.6 | 61/100 |
| 11 | Hastings | 24,815 | 2,325.2 | 318.4 | 57/100 |
| 12 | North Platte | 22,268 | 2,730.4 | 148.2 | 50/100 |
| 13 | Lincoln | 295,808 | 2,795.1 | 349.2 | 49/100 |
| 14 | South Sioux City | 13,801 | 2,840.4 | 188.4 | 48/100 |
| 15 | Scottsbluff | 15,306 | 3,371.2 | 588.0 | 38/100 |
| 16 | Omaha | 480,235 | 3,534.3 | 372.5 | 35/100 |
Nebraska Crime Rate Trends
| Year | Population | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1,144,293 | 2,778.5 | 312.5 | 2,466.0 |
| 2023 | 1,140,108 | 2,192.6 | 226.3 | 1,966.3 |
| 2022 | 1,115,127 | 3,226.6 | 419.0 | 2,807.7 |
| 2021 | 643,027 | 2,488.5 | 320.1 | 2,168.5 |
| 2020 | 1,123,504 | 3,064.7 | 450.3 | 2,614.4 |
| 2019 | 1,113,315 | 3,367.9 | 434.2 | 2,933.7 |
Nebraska vs Neighboring States
How does Nebraska's crime rate compare to its neighbors?
| State | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate | vs Nebraska |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nebraska | 2,778.5 | 312.5 | 2,466.0 | — |
| Wyoming | 2,136.2 | 257.6 | 1,878.7 | -23.1% |
| Iowa | 2,397.2 | 350.8 | 2,046.4 | -13.7% |
| Kansas | 2,673.0 | 475.8 | 2,197.1 | -3.8% |
| South Dakota | 2,931.1 | 455.0 | 2,476.1 | +5.5% |
| Missouri | 3,621.5 | 679.8 | 2,941.8 | +30.3% |
| Colorado | 3,866.0 | 609.8 | 3,256.2 | +39.1% |
Among neighboring states, Wyoming has the lowest crime rate (2,136 per 100K). Colorado has the highest (3,866 per 100K).