Moving is usually a hard decision to make. After all, you need to leave everything behind – your friends, the family members that are not coming with you, the places that you made memories in. However, it often turns out to be the best choice you could ever make.
Obviously, there are plenty of places you can move to – both within and outside of the US – which makes the decision a challenging one. Unless you already have something in mind. But have you thought about moving to Nebraska? The state, often overlooked, gives you more opportunities than you can imagine (and no, we are not talking about providers of garage door repair in Omaha – although we do have to admit their number is impressive).
So, before you make that final decision about where you actually want to move, let us give you a quick overview of everything you need to know when relocating to Nebraska. Hopefully, it will make your choice easier or will reassure you that you are making the right decision. So, let’s just get started!
Job Market
Nebraska has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the United States, fluctuating around 3%. It is one of the top 20 states for job hunting, taking into account economic standing and job opportunities. The companies with the largest workforce include Home Instead Senior Care, Berkshire Hathaway, and Union Pacific – the last two have their headquarters in Omaha.
When it comes to what jobs are currently the fastest growing in the state, there are three that are more sought-after than others – those are web developer, home health aide, and numerical controller machinist.
The minimum wage in Nebraska is $9.00, which is $1.75 higher than the federal minimum wage rate of $7.25 – pretty good, considering the state is one of the most affordable ones in terms of the cost of living.
Housing
According to Zillow, in January of 2021, the median home value of a house in Nebraska was $192,584, while the average rent, as of December 2020, was $1,195 – however, this varies depending on the city you live or want to live in. In comparison to the average national rent price, which was $1,650, Nebraska was almost 28% cheaper.
Nebraska is one of those states that haven’t been experiencing any rapid population increases since the Gold Rush, which means that building new properties hasn’t been a priority. It is said that most of the houses there were built in the 1980s. Sure, you can find some new-construction homes in big cities such as Omaha or Lincoln, but generally speaking, older homes dominate the landscape.
People and Culture
Nebraska’s major industry is agriculture, which is why it shouldn’t come as a surprise that most people live a Wild West lifestyle. Although for those who visit the state for the first time, it might be a little unexpected, it is not uncommon to see people walking down the street wearing a cowboy hat.
Since most people live rurally, life in this particular state is quite peaceful and slow. Even though it might be hard for newcomers to get used to such a lifestyle, the farmers who have worked on the land for generations would be more than happy to show them how cornhuskers get it done.
Pros and Cons of Moving to Nebraska
Although you might think that the place you chose to relocate to has no cons, the truth is that every state, county, or city has some disadvantages. Nebraska is no different. The question is whether you think the pros outweigh the cons.
To make it all clearer for you, here is a quick summary of some of the pros and cons of moving to Nebraska – some of which we have already discussed above.
Pros
- Low costs of living – Nebraska is one of the most affordable states to live in. The cost of living there is 11% lower than the U.S. national average.
- Affordable housing – As it was shown in the U.S. News & World Report, Nebraska occupies fifth place in terms of house affordability.
- Stellar education – Nebraska is ranked among the Top 20 states when it comes to education. What’s more, it also has the fourth-highest high school graduation rate and fourteenth highest public school funding in the country.
- Great cities – Nebraska has several great cities that are often featured on the ‘best place to live’ lists. An example of such a city is Omaha, which is the largest city in Nebraska.
Cons
- Natural disasters – Nebraska is located in the so-called Tornado Alley, as it is a common occurrence in that area. If you are planning on living there, it is a good idea to prepare the house for tornadoes and other natural disasters.
- Location – Depending on your personal preference, this can be a pro or a con. Nebraska is located far from oceans and mountain ranges. Instead, it offers sand dunes and grassy prairies.
- High crime rate – Keep in mind that violent crime rarely happens in this state. It is mostly petty theft and car theft that are the problem – especially in the Lincoln and Omaha metro areas.
The Bottom Line
Moving, despite the fact that it is a very difficult choice, is often one of the best decisions one could make. There’s just something about relocating to a new city, not knowing anyone, and starting your life from scratch – don’t you think? Especially if the place you are moving to offers a lot more opportunities than your previous place of residence.
Contrary to what some people might think, Nebraska is a great place to relocate to. Although most people live a rural life, the economy of the state is thriving, not to mention the high quality of education and the booming employment sector.
We hope that our article showed you what you need to know before making your decision about whether or not you should move to Nebraska. Sure, the state has some cons, but, let’s be honest, which one doesn’t? Think about it!
