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Quality of Life in Holdrege, NE
A high quality of life with strong walkability, manageable living costs, healthy neighborhood signals, and solid amenity access.
What does Quality of Life tell us?
Quality of Life blends cost of living, nearby amenities, socioeconomic signals, and neighborhood character. City-level scores represent the whole municipality; individual neighborhoods can differ.
What does this tell us?
Quality of Life blends cost of living, nearby amenities, socioeconomic signals, and neighborhood character. City-level scores represent the whole municipality; individual neighborhoods can differ.
Cost of Living
38% below national average
The Real Cost of Living in Holdrege, NE for 2026
| Tier | Individual | Family (4) |
|---|---|---|
| Survival | $12k | $22k |
| Comfortable | $32k | $48k |
| Luxury | $100k+ | $155k+ |
| Elite (Top 5%) | $147k+ | $229k+ |
116%
The Area Signal
A metric tracking the socioeconomic signals of the area.
Hobbies
Explore the areaGroceries
0 within 10 miles
Gas
5 within 10 miles
Hospital
1 within 20 miles
Airport
MCI — Kansas City International
Post Office
USPS — Holdrege, NE
Critical Amenities
Quality-of-Life Analysis
Holdrege, Nebraska, presents a quality of life defined by strong community ties, economic stability, and a cost of living that significantly undercuts national averages. With a cost of living index of 62 (where 100 is the U.S. average), the area attracts a mix of agricultural professionals, manufacturing workers at major employers like Becton Dickinson (BD) and Parker Hannifin, and families seeking a safe, affordable environment. The population of roughly 5,500 is notably stable, with a high rate of homeownership and a median age slightly above the national average, reflecting a community where people tend to put down roots rather than cycle through.
How housing costs and everyday expenses compare to nearby Kearney and Lexington
Holdrege’s affordability is its most defining quality-of-life feature. The median home value of $166,600 is roughly 30% lower than the national median and significantly undercuts nearby Kearney (where median values hover around $220,000) and Lexington (around $190,000). Median rent sits at just $740 per month, making it one of the most accessible rental markets in south-central Nebraska. For context, a household earning the area’s median income of roughly $58,000 can comfortably afford a mortgage on a median-priced home with a standard 20% down payment. The average commute of just over 19 minutes is notably short, even by rural standards, and is a direct result of the town’s compact layout and the fact that most major employers—including the hospital, schools, and industrial plants—are within a 10-minute drive of any residence. Utility costs and grocery prices also track well below the national index, meaning disposable income stretches further here than in nearly any other part of the state.
What daily life is like for families: schools, parks, and local amenities
Daily life in Holdrege revolves around a well-maintained public school system, the Holdrege Area Family YMCA, and a downtown square that hosts seasonal events like the Phelps County Fair and the Harvest Festival. The Holdrege Public Schools system consistently scores above the Nebraska state average in reading and math proficiency, and the district’s small class sizes (typically 15-18 students per teacher) are a major draw for families. For recreation, the city maintains over 10 parks, including the 40-acre Tassel Park with its disc golf course and walking trails, and the nearby Johnson Lake State Recreation Area offers boating and fishing within a 15-minute drive. Healthcare is anchored by the Phelps Memorial Health Center, a critical-access hospital that provides emergency care, surgical services, and a network of specialists. The town lacks a major shopping mall or multiplex cinema—those are a 40-minute drive to Kearney—but residents consistently cite the low crime rate (violent crime is roughly 60% below the national average) and the ability to walk or bike to school and work as the primary daily benefits.
Holdrege is best suited for people who prioritize financial stability, safety, and community involvement over urban amenities and career diversity. Retirees on fixed incomes, young families seeking affordable starter homes, and professionals in manufacturing, agriculture, or healthcare will find the most alignment with the area’s rhythm. Those who thrive here tend to be self-reliant, value neighborly relationships, and appreciate a slower pace where the nearest traffic jam is a tractor on Highway 183. For anyone seeking a low-stress, low-cost base with strong schools and a genuine sense of place, Holdrege delivers a quality of life that is increasingly rare in the United States.
Crime in Holdrege, NE
Lower crime rates than 92% of comparable U.S. locations.
Violent CrimeViolent Crime Analysis
Property CrimeProperty Crime Analysis
Crime Analysis
Holdrege, Nebraska, is one of the safest small cities in the state, with violent and property crime rates that are a fraction of both the Nebraska state average and national benchmarks. The city’s 2024 crime data shows a violent crime rate of 161.8 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 89.9 per 100,000, placing it well within the lowest tier of crime risk for communities of its size in the Great Plains region.
Crime in context
To understand how safe Holdrege truly is, compare its figures to broader averages. The national violent crime rate sits at approximately 380 per 100,000, meaning Holdrege’s rate is 57% lower. Property crime nationally hovers around 1,950 per 100,000; Holdrege’s rate is a remarkable 95% lower. Even within Nebraska, where the statewide violent crime rate is roughly 280 per 100,000, Holdrege is significantly safer. This low crime environment is consistent with Phelps County’s overall profile, which benefits from a stable agricultural economy and a close-knit community where law enforcement maintains a visible, proactive presence. Unlike large metro areas where progressive district attorneys and lenient sentencing policies can contribute to higher recidivism and more criminals on the street, Holdrege’s local justice system operates with a focus on accountability and public safety, which directly supports lower crime rates.
What residents experience
For those living in Holdrege, crime is an infrequent concern. The overwhelming majority of calls to the Holdrege Police Department involve traffic incidents, noise complaints, or minor disputes rather than serious violent offenses. The city’s violent crime total for the year typically amounts to a handful of incidents—often simple assaults rather than robberies or homicides. Property crime is similarly rare, with theft and vandalism occurring at a rate that is almost negligible compared to urban centers. Residents commonly report feeling safe walking downtown or leaving vehicles unlocked in driveways, a level of security that is increasingly uncommon in larger Nebraska cities like Lincoln or Omaha, where progressive criminal justice policies have been linked to rising property crime and reduced police morale.
Neighborhood-level variation
While Holdrege does not have the pronounced neighborhood crime disparities seen in major metros, some minor variation exists. The area immediately surrounding the downtown commercial corridor and the industrial zone near the BNSF rail yard sees slightly higher rates of petty theft and trespassing, though still well below state averages. Residential neighborhoods on the city’s west side, particularly those near the Holdrege Country Club and the newer subdivisions along Highway 183, report the lowest incident rates. Overall, the city’s compact size and strong community policing mean that no area of Holdrege presents a significant safety risk, making it an attractive option for families and retirees seeking a low-crime environment free from the systemic issues plaguing larger jurisdictions.
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-05-03T20:28:44.000Z
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