Scores by category

Each category averages its indicators' percentile scores among US metro and micro areas.

Safety63#343/924
Economy66#317/925
Housing63#344/925
Health76#222/925
Healthcare70#277/923
Environment83#154/917
Education30#650/925
Infrastructure70#282/925
Community89#100/925
Leisure & amenities70#275/925

Strengths · Weaknesses

Indicators where Grand Island, NE metro area ranks highest and lowest among US metro and micro areas (score = percentile, 100 = best).

Strengths

Frequent mental distress · low14.8%
99/100Nebraska 15.3%United States 18.6%2023University of Wisconsin Population Health InstituteAggregated from counties
Depression · low17.1%
98/100Nebraska 18.7%United States 20.7%2023Centers for Disease Control and PreventionAggregated from counties
Drug overdose deaths · low3.3 /100k
98/100Nebraska 6.6 /100kUnited States 18.4 /100kMar 2025–Feb 2026Centers for Disease Control and PreventionAggregated from counties
Mammography screening · high57.0%
95/100Nebraska 54.0%United States 46.0%2023University of Wisconsin Population Health InstituteAggregated from counties
Homicide rate · low0.0 /100k
93/100Nebraska 2.3 /100kUnited States 4.8 /100kMay 2025–Apr 2026Centers for Disease Control and PreventionAggregated from counties
Loneliness · low30.5%
92/100Nebraska 29.8%United States 33.2%2023Centers for Disease Control and PreventionAggregated from counties

Weaknesses

Distance to an airport · high130 mi
6/100Nebraska 65 miUnited States 33 mi2025Federal Aviation Administration · Bureau of Transportation Statistics · U.S. Census BureauAggregated from counties
Adult obesity · high41.0%
18/100Nebraska 39.8%United States 38.2%2023University of Wisconsin Population Health InstituteAggregated from counties
Effective property tax rate · high1.22%
22/100Nebraska 1.44%United States 0.94%2020-2024U.S. Census Bureau Census table B25090
High school diploma or higher · low86.8%
22/100Nebraska 92.2%United States 89.6%2020-2024U.S. Census Bureau Census table B15003
Uninsured residents (under 65) · high13.8%
22/100Nebraska 8.2%United States 9.8%2020-2024U.S. Census Bureau Census table B27010
Physical inactivity · high29.7%
23/100Nebraska 26.3%United States 26.5%2023University of Wisconsin Population Health InstituteAggregated from counties

Trends

The largest changes over about five years, next to the country's over the same periods.

Drought exposureWorsening
31% (2021) → 53% (Nov 2025–Oct 2026)
+23 pts5 yearsUS 40% → 43%
Homicide rateImproving
2.4 /100k (2021) → 0.0 /100k (May 2025–Apr 2026)
−100%5 yearsUS 7.8 /100k → 4.8 /100k
Broadband subscriptionsImproving
79.8% (2015-2019) → 89.4% (2020-2024)
+9.5 pts5 yearsCensus table B28002US 82.7% → 91.0%
Income adjusted for local pricesImproving
$48,860 (2019) → $71,293 (2024)
+46%5 yearsUS $55,567 → $73,204
New business applicationsImproving
7.1 /1k (2020) → 10.4 /1k (2025)
+46%5 yearsUS 13.1 /1k → 16.6 /1k
Cost of buying a home todayWorsening
22.0% (Dec 2021) → 30.7% (Aug 2026)
+8.7 pts5 yearsUS 26.4% → 34.1%

What changed in five years

How each measure moved between two periods about five years apart, read against whether more or less is better, the published margin of error and the same change in other places.

Over about five years, Grand Island, NE metro area improved on 10 of 29 measures with a comparison and declined on 5. 9 moved within the margin of error and 5 barely changed.

Earlier period
Latest period
Lower standingHigher standing

Position is the place's standing among metro and micro areas: further right is better, whichever way the measure counts. Periods differ by measure (most compare 2015-2019 with 2020-2024); each row names its own in its tooltip and in the table.

Improved10

Real income+46%$48,860 → $71,293
Grocery stores+21%1.7 /10k → 2.0 /10k
Overdose deaths−52%7.0 /100k → 3.3 /100k
Violent crime−28%425 /100k → 304 /100k
Broadband+9.5 points79.8% → 89.4%

Declined5

Firearm deaths+35%7.7 /100k → 10.4 /100k
Pharmacies−20%2.1 /10k → 1.7 /10k
Suicides+16%14.7 /100k → 17.1 /100k
Price / income+0.6×2.5× → 3.1×
Traffic deaths+16%13.0 /100k → 15.0 /100k

All 29 measures

Change of every measure of Grand Island, NE metro area between two periods about five years apart
Measure	Before	After	Change	Reading	Favourable vs peers
Arts, entertainment and recreation	3.6 /10k2020	4.0 /10k2025	+9.1%	Improved	50%
Average commute time	18.2 min2015-2019	18.6 min2020-2024	+0.4 min	Within the margin of error	51%
Bachelor's degree or higher	21.1%2015-2019	21.5%2020-2024	+0.5 points	Within the margin of error	12%
Broadband subscriptions	79.8%2015-2019	89.4%2020-2024	+9.5 points	Improved	57%
Child poverty rate	16.1%2015-2019	15.8%2020-2024	−0.3 points	Within the margin of error	26%
Distance to an airport	130 mi2020	130 mi2025	−0 mi	Little change	89%
Drug overdose deaths	7.0 /100k2020	3.3 /100kMar 2025–Feb 2026	−52%	Improved	84%
Effective property tax rate	1.52%2015-2019	1.22%2020-2024	−0.3 points	Little change	90%
Firearm deaths	7.7 /100k2020	10.4 /100kMay 2025–Apr 2026	+35%	Declined	15%
Grocery stores	1.7 /10k2020	2.0 /10k2025	+21%	Improved	90%
Gyms and fitness centers	0.9 /10k2020	0.9 /10k2025	−1.5%	Little change	37%
High school diploma or higher	86.6%2015-2019	86.8%2020-2024	+0.2 points	Within the margin of error	9%
Home price to income ratio	2.5×2015-2019	3.1×2020-2024	+0.6×	Declined	31%
Income adjusted for local prices	$48,8602019	$71,2932024	+46%	Improved	96%
Income inequality (Gini index)	0.4302015-2019	0.4522020-2024	+0.022	Within the margin of error	12%
Median household income	$57,0862015-2019	$69,7042020-2024	+22%	Improved	23%
New business applications	7.1 /1k2020	10.4 /1k2025	+46%	Improved	50%
Pharmacies	2.1 /10k2020	1.7 /10k2025	−20%	Declined	21%
Poverty rate	11.5%2015-2019	12.7%2020-2024	+1.2 points	Within the margin of error	11%
Property crime rate	2,015 /100k2020	1,386 /100k2025	−31%	Improved	45%
Public libraries	0.8 /10k2019	0.8 /10k2024	−3.3%	Little change	35%
Rent as share of income	25.6%2015-2019	27.7%2020-2024	+2.1 points	Within the margin of error	20%
Rent-burdened households	40.4%2015-2019	45.4%2020-2024	+5 points	Within the margin of error	17%
Restaurants and bars	9.8 /10k2020	10.0 /10k2025	+2.4%	Little change	56%
Suicide rate	14.7 /100k2020	17.1 /100kMay 2025–Apr 2026	+16%	Declined	31%
Traffic deaths	13.0 /100k2015-2019	15.0 /100k2020-2024	+16%	Declined	34%
Unemployment rate	5.3%2020	3.4%2025	−1.9 points	Improved	19%
Uninsured residents (under 65)	12.9%2015-2019	13.8%2020-2024	+0.9 points	Within the margin of error	21%
Violent crime rate	425 /100k2020	304 /100k2025	−28%	Improved	72%

“Against peers” compares the change with the same change in the 708 metro and micro areas that have the same two periods. It describes how common a change is, not why it happened.

Sources: Regional Economic Accounts; Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; Mapping Injury, Overdose, and Violence; American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates; Business Formation Statistics; Uniform Crime Reporting Program, Return A master files; Public Libraries Survey; Fatality Analysis Reporting System; Distance to airports and intercity rail. Values are the latest and the one five years earlier of the same publisher dataset; datasets that changed publisher in between are never compared.

Survey estimates (American Community Survey) compare the two most recent 5-year windows that do not share years, so the margin of error of the difference holds. The 2015-2019 window predates the pandemic and 2020-2024 includes it.
A change counts only when it is larger than 1.645 times the square root of the two standard errors squared, summed (a 90% margin). Measures published without a margin must change by at least 5% to count.
“Against peers” compares the change with the same change in the 925 metro and micro areas that have the same two periods. It describes how common a change is, not why it happened.
Standing is a percentile among the same places: 0 is the lowest value on the measure (or the worst when lower is better), 100 the best.

Metro and micro areas like Grand Island, NE metro area five years ago that improved

The places whose measures looked most like those of Grand Island, NE metro area in the earlier period, ranked by how many measures improved beyond the margin of error, minus how many declined. A comparison of published data, not a forecast and not advice.

For comparison, Grand Island, NE metro area itself moved −5.2 points in standing on average over the same 30 measures (standings of all places average about zero).

How the ranking works

Similarity is the root-mean-square difference of standings in the earlier period over the measures most places have. Places are ranked by measures that improved beyond the margin of error minus those that declined (a count that estimation noise in small places cannot inflate), then by the mean change of standing over the measures a place has in both periods. Only places with more improvements than declines and a rise in standing are listed. Standings are relative, so a place can improve in absolute terms and still lose standing.

Who lives here

Age, race and education of residents, from the American Community Survey. Shares are of all residents (age), residents of every origin (race) or adults 25 and over (education).

Age and sex

76,794 residents

Men
Women

80 and over
70–79
60–69

Income

How household income is spread, not just the middle: each bar is the share of households in that income range.

Household income

30,296 households (±339)

Grand Island, NE metro area
United States share

Under $25k16%4,822
$25k–50k20%5,984
$50k–75k18%5,519

Homes

Who owns and who rents, what homes cost, and what the housing stock looks like.

Owners and renters

30,296 households (±339)

Grand Island, NE metro area
United States share

Own65%19,832
Rent35%10,464

No change since 2015–2019 is larger than the margin of error.

Table view

Getting to work

How workers travel to their job and how long it takes them.

How people get to work

37,435 workers (±812)

Grand Island, NE metro area
United States share

Drive alone80%29,860
Carpool12%4,492
Public transit0.5%†178

Jobs and pay

What the largest occupations here pay, from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey.

The 10 largest occupations in Grand Island, NE employ 8,340 people. 2 pay a median above the US median and 8 below it.

Above the US median
Below the US median

The largest occupations in Grand Island, NE by employment, with median annual pay and how it compares with the United States
Occupation	Jobs	Median pay	vs USCompared with the US	Concentration
Fast Food and Counter Workers1,250 jobs	1,250	$29,150US $31,200	−7%	1.27×
Retail Salespersons1,070 jobs	1,070	$30,830US $35,410	−13%	1.08×
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers970 jobs	970	$60,810US $58,640	+4%	1.84×
General and Operations Managers870 jobs	870	$79,520US $105,770	−25%	0.97×
Cashiers860 jobs	860	$30,050US $32,880	−9%	1.1×
Registered Nurses830 jobs	830	$82,590US $97,550	−15%	0.97×
Stockers and Order Fillers670 jobs	670	$34,650US $37,330	−7%	0.94×
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand660 jobs	660	$44,370US $40,240	+10%	0.89×
Nursing Assistants590 jobs	590	$38,880US $42,260	−8%	1.6×
Waiters and Waitresses570 jobs	570	$29,840US $35,230	−15%	0.99×

Look up any occupation

Search more than 800 occupations and see what they pay in Grand Island, NE.

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025-05 (all industries and ownerships) bls.gov/oes

Reference period: 2025-05. BLS publishes metro areas, states and the nation (not counties or cities), so a county or city page shows its metro area.
Pay is not adjusted for the cost of living, so a higher median does not mean more purchasing power.
BLS caps the highest wages it publishes: where a figure is shown as “or more”, the real value is at least that much.
Some occupations (teachers, performers) are published by the hour or school year and shown here as an annual figure.

Local businesses

Employer businesses and sole proprietors by industry, per resident and against the state and the nation. Counts of businesses next to counts of people, not a measure of demand.

Grand Island, NE has 2,282 employer establishments, 294 for every 10,000 residents (1.18× the US rate of 248), with 38,368 paid employees at an average annual pay of $49,883. The Census Bureau also counts 6,089 nonemployer businesses, mostly sole proprietors.

Establishments: 2,282; 6,089 nonemployers
Per 10,000 residents: 294; US 248
Paid employees: 38,368
Average annual pay: $49,883; US $68,342

Employer establishments, employees, average pay and nonemployers of Grand Island, NE by industry, with the density per resident against the nation

Specialty trade contractors	215	27.7	1.79×More than typical	1,435	$63,500	553
Ambulatory health care services	171	22	1.06×About typical	2,126	$67,570	221
Restaurants and other eating places	129	16.6	0.91×About typical	2,661	$20,694	41
Truck transportation	84	10.8	2.14×More than typical	1,027	$58,311	390
Offices of other health practitioners	82	10.6	1.74×More than typical	746	$54,630	99
Building equipment contractors	78	10.1	1.67×More than typical	559	$69,016	91
Construction of buildings	77	9.9	1.31×More than typical	424	$56,927	289
Services to buildings and dwellings	75	9.7	1.43×More than typical	400	$32,783	416
Insurance agencies and brokerages	66	8.5	1.94×More than typical	202	$59,361	132
Foundation, structure and building exterior contractors	64	8.2	2.62×More than typical	405	$65,538	134
Lessors of real estate	64	8.2	0.67×Fewer than typical	238	$42,655	633
Religious organizations	59	7.6	1.37×More than typical	376	$23,061	—

Rank places for an industry

County Business Patterns (2023); Nonemployer Statistics (2024)

Per-resident figures divide by the population estimate of 2023: 77,602 residents here, 336,755,052 in the United States. County Business Patterns counts establishments in 2023; the Nonemployer Statistics count businesses in 2024.
“More than typical” is a density at least 1.25 times the nation's per resident, “fewer” at most 0.8 times, with at least 10 establishments. It compares counts of businesses with counts of people: it says nothing about demand, incomes, size, quality or profit, and visitors and commuters are not residents.
The Census Bureau adds noise to employment and payroll to protect confidentiality, and withholds some figures: an industry with few establishments can show employees or pay as unavailable.
Industries overlap: a narrower industry (full-service restaurants) is part of a broader one (restaurants), so the rows do not add up.
A metro area's figures are the exact sums of its counties.
Industries follow the North American Industry Classification System; the two surveys use different editions (NAICS 2017 and 2022), which this page matches industry by industry.

Federal contract spending

In FY2026, federal agencies obligated $18.2M on contracts performed in Grand Island, NE metro area: $233 per resident (US $2,007).

Obligations: $18.2M; −3.1% vs FY2025
Per resident: $233; US $2,007
Sole-source: 5.5%; US 30%
Single offer: 38%; US 8.7%

A signal is a reason to look closer, not evidence of wrongdoing: most sole-source awards are lawful and justified.

Top buying agencies

Federal Law Enforcement Training Center$5.3M29%
Department of Veterans Affairs$3.9M22%
Federal Bureau of Investigation$2.3M12%
Environmental Protection Agency$1.8M9.7%
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Acquisition and Property Management Division$1.6M8.5%
U.S. Marshals Service$985.2K5.4%
Federal Aviation Administration$759.5K4.2%
Drug Enforcement Administration$545.5K3.0%

Top recipients

HORNADY MANUFACTURING COMPANY$11.6M64%
ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION LLC$1.7M9.3%
SJS EXECUTIVES, LLC$1.5M8.5%
MDM CONSTRUCTION LLC$1.1M5.8%
DACO CONSTRUCTION COMPANY INC$759.5K4.2%

Spending by fiscal year

11.8MFY2017
4.7MFY2018
12.1MFY2019
3.8MFY2020
7.3MFY2021
9.6MFY2022
29.6MFY2023
12.7M

Top industries (NAICS)

Other fabricated metal product manufacturing · 3329$11.6M64%
Nonresidential building construction · 2362$2.6M14%
Remediation and other waste management services · 5629$1.8M9.7%
Employment services · 5613$1.5M8.5%
Facilities support services · 5612$326.5K1.8%
Computer and peripheral equipment manufacturing · 3341$124.5K

Largest awards

THE GENERAL CONTRACTOR IS TO PROVIDE ALL CONSTRUCTION AND RELATED SERVICES TO COMPLETE THE EHRM INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES PROJECT AT THE GRAND ISLAND VAMC.$16.3M
THE POVOLNY GROUP INC· Hall County, NE· Construction & real property· Mar 9, 2023 – Jul 29, 2026· 36C77623C0031
R7 ERRS VI HERITAGE DISPOSAL AND STORAGE SSID: B7L6$7.2M
ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION LLC· Hall County, NE· Facilities & utilities· Sep 23, 2024 – Jul 8, 2026· 68HE0724F0152
COMMERCIAL LEAD TRAINING AMMUNITION (CLTA) 9MM 135 GRAIN, 9,364,000 ROUNDS$3.9M
HORNADY MANUFACTURING COMPANY· Hall County, NE· Weapons, aircraft, ships & vehicles· Apr 14, 2026 – Apr 14, 2026· 70LGLY26FGLB00061

Source: Federal contract transactions (Federal Procurement Data System) (U.S. Department of the Treasury, USAspending.gov), data current to Oct 9, 2026, loaded Oct 9, 2026.

Federal grants & assistance

Grants, loans (counted at their subsidy cost), direct payments and insurance, by fiscal year of the action (USAspending.gov, FABS). Reported apart from contracts and never added to them.

In FY2026, federal agencies obligated $457.9M in grants, loans, direct payments and insurance for Grand Island, NE metro area: $5,864 per resident (US $12,975).

Assistance · FY2026: $457.9M; −5.4% vs FY2025
Per resident: $5,864; US $12,975
Loan face value: $9.5M; lent or guaranteed
To individuals: 6.1%; counted, never named

Top programs

96.002 · Social Security Retirement Insurance$267.7M58%
64.109 · Veterans Compensation for Service-Connected Disability$44.3M9.7%
96.001 · Social Security Disability Insurance$27.8M6.1%
96.004 · Social Security Survivors Insurance$20.7M4.5%
10.988 · Supplemental Disaster Relief Program$18.7M4.1%
20.337 · Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements Program$15.2M3.3%
96.006 · Supplemental Security Income$8.5M1.9%
84.063 · Federal Pell Grant Program$8M1.8%

Top recipients (organizations)

GUARDIAN RAIL, LLC$15.2M3.3%
COLUMBUS, OH
CENTRAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE$8.5M1.9%
GRAND ISLAND, NE
NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION$7.2M1.6%
LINCOLN, NE
SKYWEST AIRLINES INC$5.2M1.1%
SAINT GEORGE, UT
HALL COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITY$4.7M

Organizations only: awards to individuals and county aggregate records count in the totals but are never listed. Grants to state governments recorded at the agency's own address are counted statewide, not in the capital's county.

Top agencies

Social Security Administration$324.7M71%
Under Secretary for Benefits/Veterans Benefits Administration$50.2M11%
Department of Veterans Affairs
Farm Service Agency$23M5.0%
Department of Agriculture
Federal Railroad Administration$15.8M3.5%
Department of Transportation
Department of Education$8.6M

Assistance by fiscal year

461.7MFY2021
433.3MFY2022
398.8MFY2023
810.6MFY2024
483.8MFY2025
457.9MFY2026

County aggregates

83%

Share of obligations reported only as county totals of many small awards (for example Social Security or Medicare payments), with no recipient named.

Source: Federal financial assistance transactions (Financial Assistance Broker Submission) (U.S. Department of the Treasury, USAspending.gov), data current to Oct 8, 2026, loaded Oct 8, 2026 · FY2021–FY2026.

Counties in Grand Island, NE

Whole counties, as the U.S. Office of Management and Budget delineates the area. Federal spending below is the exact sum of these counties.

Principal cities

The cities the area is named for.

Grand IslandPrincipal city52,884

Largest cities and towns

By population, for places with most of their residents in the area.

Other metro and micro areas in Nebraska

Areas based in Nebraska, best score first.

Neighboring metro and micro areas

Places that share a border, best score first.

Similar metro and micro areas

Closest indicator profiles across the country (no model: score distances).

Data and sources

Latest published value of each indicator; periods differ by source. Values flagged by their publisher are marked.

Mapping Injury, Overdose, and ViolenceCenters for Disease Control and Prevention · release 2026-10-01
PLACES: Local Data for Better HealthCenters for Disease Control and Prevention · release 2025
Daily county PM2.5 and ozone (EPA downscaler model)Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · U.S. Environmental Protection Agency · release 2022
Care Compare: Hospital General Information and Timely and Effective CareCenters for Medicare & Medicaid Services · release 2026-07-22
Distance to airports and intercity railFederal Aviation Administration · Bureau of Transportation Statistics · U.S. Census Bureau · release 2025+amtrak-2026-04-23
Uniform Crime Reporting Program, Return A master filesFederal Bureau of Investigation · release 2025
Public Libraries SurveyInstitute of Museum and Library Services · release FY2024
U.S. Drought Monitor county statisticsNational Drought Mitigation Center (University of Nebraska–Lincoln), USDA and NOAA · release 2026-10-06
Fatality Analysis Reporting SystemNational Highway Traffic Safety Administration · release 2024
nClimGrid-Daily county averagesNOAA National Centers for Environmental Information · release 2025
Regional Economic AccountsU.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · release 2024
Local Area Unemployment StatisticsU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · release 2025
Quarterly Census of Employment and WagesU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · release 2026 Q1
American Community Survey 5-Year EstimatesU.S. Census Bureau · release 2017-2024
Building Permits SurveyU.S. Census Bureau · release 2026-08
Business Formation StatisticsU.S. Census Bureau · release 2026-10-01
Population Estimates ProgramU.S. Census Bureau · release 2025
Small Area Health Insurance EstimatesU.S. Census Bureau · release 2024
Small Area Income and Poverty EstimatesU.S. Census Bureau · release 2024
Alternative Fuels Data Center station locatorU.S. Department of Energy · release 2026-10
Election Administration and Voting SurveyU.S. Election Assistance Commission · release 2024
Air Quality Index Annual Summary by CountyU.S. Environmental Protection Agency · release 2025
County Health Rankings & RoadmapsUniversity of Wisconsin Population Health Institute · release 2022-2025+2026-03-supplement
Zillow Home Value Index, Observed Rent Index and affordabilityZillow Research · release 2026-08

JSON · /api/v1/places/M24260

Scores by category

Strengths · Weaknesses

Strengths

Weaknesses

Trends

What changed in five years

Improved10

Declined5

Metro and micro areas like Grand Island, NE metro area five years ago that improved

Who lives here

Age and sex

Income

Household income

Homes

Owners and renters

Getting to work

How people get to work

Jobs and pay

Look up any occupation

Local businesses

Federal contract spending

Top buying agencies

Top recipients

Spending by fiscal year

Top industries (NAICS)

Largest awards

Federal grants & assistance

Top programs

Top recipients (organizations)

Top agencies

Assistance by fiscal year

County aggregates

Counties in Grand Island, NE

Principal cities

Largest cities and towns

Other metro and micro areas in Nebraska

Neighboring metro and micro areas

Similar metro and micro areas

Data and sources

Improved10

Declined5

Age and sex

Household income

Owners and renters

How people get to work

Race and Hispanic origin

Education

Rent paid

Home values

Age of homes

Size of homes

Time to get to work

Look up any occupation

Top programs

Top recipients (organizations)

Top agencies

Assistance by fiscal year

County aggregates

By type

Top buying agencies

Top recipients

Spending by fiscal year

Top industries (NAICS)

Largest awards

What was bought