9 Best Nebraska Towns For Retirees

The saying "Nebraska Nice" is not just a phrase. The Cornhusker State, home to golden prairies and plains spotted with sand dunes, is well-known for being safe, friendly and welcoming to visitors and transplants alike. Nebraska also boasts generally low costs of living, having been listed in 2025 by Consumer Affairs as the seventh most affordable state in the nation. Let's take a look at the nine best Nebraska towns for retirees.

Kearney

Known mostly for its massive migratory sandhill crane population, which descend on the Platte River Valley just outside the city every spring, Kearney is undeniably a unique place. It is home to University of Nebraska's Kearney branch, which gives it a fun and energetic vibe, keeping new things to do popping up all the time. Make no mistake though, Kearney is a great place to live for all ages, including retirees.

It is very important when choosing a retirement location that you pick somewhere safe, where you can buy a home and feel secure in it. Kearney is a solid option for that, with AreaVibes listing its overall crime rate at 7% less than the national average, and 19% lower for violent crime specifically. Kearney is affordable too, with Zillow listing the towns median home sale price at about $370,000 for this year so far.

One of the fun things to do around Kearney is checking out the exhibits at the impressive Museum of Nebraska Art, the focus is on collections produced by both modern and classic artists from the state. For food, try top-rated options such as Kitt's Kitchen and Coffee for brunch, or Thunderhead Brewing for dinner and drinks. For people over 50, the Peterson Senior Activity Center is a perfect place to meet new friends, have fun and stay busy alongside like-minded people.

Norfolk

In the Elkhorn River Valley in northeastern Nebraska, tucked beside the North Fork River, you will find scenic Norfolk. The town has a population of around twenty thousand people, yet it maintains a slower-paced, relaxing neighborhood feeling.

There is plenty to do downtown, and specifically for retirees, the Norfolk Family YMCA and Norfolk Senior Center each offer a multitude of activities, classes and social events for older residents. Norfolk offers a lot of opportunities for outdoor recreation as well, including fishing for trout or playing disc golf or horseshoe at Ta-Ha-Zouka Park along the Elkhorn River. You can also walk along the paved Cowboy Trail, which is a rails-to-trails accessible path that runs through Norfolk.

Additionally, Norfolk is great for retirees because it is both affordable and safe. For 2025 so far, Zillow lists the median home sale price in the town at around $255,000, which is cheaper than both Nebraska state and national averages currently. As for the crime rate, AreaVibes lists it currently at a staggering 59% less than the national average. Also, Norfolk has great hospitals, namely Faith Regional Health Services, which was listed on US News' "Best 100 Hospitals in Nebraska" column, and offers many specialized services.

Columbus

Speaking of the US News Best Hospitals, a few from the riverside city of Columbus are on there too, including Columbus Community Hospital. Columbus is close to the large urban center of Omaha also, offering even more resources for people needing critical care as they are aging. Columbus is much more affordable than Omaha though, with the median home sale price recorded by Zillow as $268,000, compared to Omaha's $295,000. BestPlaces also reports that the cost of living is 15% lower than the national average, and 3% less than the Nebraska state average.

Columbus has a lot of resources for senior residents, including the Columbus Area United Way's Older Adult Services, which provide things like home health care, Alzheimer's and Dementia support groups, and transportation assistance. Another is the Columbus Senior Center, who focus on community engagement and age inclusive activity programs. The city also boasts a crime rate that is 34% lower than the national average, according to AreaVibes, who gave it a safety rating of A+.

Columbus is a fun city too, with plenty of entertainment options like playing golf at Quail Run Golf Course, or gambling and watching the races at Harrah's Columbus Casino. For a food option locals would suggest, try Husker Steak House or El Mezcal Mexican.

Scottsbluff

In the middle of the grasslands of the vast Great Plains region, the city of Scottsbluff is a refreshing break in between long stretches of prairies. Needless to say, there are many outdoor amenities in the vicinity of the town for people looking to stay active. For those who like walking along trails and accessible paths, the Wildcat Hills Recreation Area has some available. Nearby Lake Minatare State Recreation Area is home to its namesake lake, which is the largest body of water in the Nebraska panhandle, and is the perfect place for fishing and boating.

Downtown, enjoy a beer and snack at Flyover Brewing Company, or have dinner with friends at Backarack's Steakhouse and Grill. For people of retiree age who might be more confined and need resources, Jaycee Senior Citizens Center offers many assistance programs for people who are homebound through the Aging Office of Western Nebraska.

As far as the home itself, the median home sale price for 2025 so far is listed by Zillow at only $181,000 currently for the town of Scottsbluff. That is the lowest price on this list so far, and is affordable by anyone's standards, even those on a retirement budget. There is also a nice mix of new construction and older, historic and unique homes available in the area, so there is something for everyone no matter what you are looking for.

Holdrege

Holdrege, another prairie town, but in southern Nebraska, is comparable to Scottsbluff only in its home sale prices. This is listed by Zillow at approximately $189,000 for 2025 so far, very affordable for both Nebraska and the rest of the US. Holdrege is a smaller town, with only around five thousand residents at the last census, and a very calm suburban rather than busy urban feel. It is quiet, friendly and great for seniors, being listed by the Phelps County Development Organization as the "second most livable community in Nebraska" for people as they age, only behind the much larger city of Lincoln.

This is because Holdrege offers a variety of resources to its senior citizens. The town is home to four different senior living communities with different levels of care provided, including assisted living and independent living with home care assistance. Therefore, it makes sense that the census.gov website lists the population of people over 65 in the town at 21%. It is also understandable that older people would feel secure there, because Holdrege is one of the safest towns in the state, with an extremely low rate of 1 per 1000 people committing violent crime as listed by NeighborhoodScout.

Since you can feel comfortable exploring town, perhaps go see an exhibit at the Nebraska Prairie Museum, or catch a phone screening or live show at the Holdrege Sun Theater. For dinner and a beer afterward, you can visit Lost Way Brewery right downtown.

Seward

Another small town, Seward, is part of the greater Lincoln metropolitan area, but is home to around seven thousand residents by itself. Despite being very close in proximity to the big city of Lincoln, which according to AreaVibes has a crime rate of around 34% higher than the national average, Seward is comparatively extremely safe. The same website lists the crime rate for the small suburban town at around 64% lower than the national average.

However, you can still head into Lincoln quickly and efficiently to do things such as visit specialists for medical care. This is great, because Lincoln is home to multiple highly rated hospitals and is known to have some of the best critical care for senior citizens in the entire state. According to the aforementioned US News article, Lincoln's Bryan Medical Center is actually ranked second best in the state and is listed as high-performing in 10 different high risk medical procedures. It is also only thirty minutes driving distance from Seward.

Seward has its own amenities too, offering several things to do such as the Nebraska National Guard Museum, which may interest retirees who served in the military themselves or have family who did. The grand and historic Rivoli Theater is perfect for seeing a movie, and Plum Creek Park is wonderful for people who would like to get outside and stay active. It has a 2-mile-long walking trail paved in concrete, which is both accessible and beautiful as it weaves through a stunning flower garden. Plus, every Fourth of July, a huge celebration with fireworks is thrown there, and it is known as one of the best annual events this side of Nebraska.

Aurora

A small city centrally located near several large urban areas like Kearney and Lincoln, Aurora offers a rural neighborhood feel but it's also close to amenities. It is a great place to retire for people who enjoy the outdoors, with lots of recreational opportunities right near town. For those interested in reminiscing on the past, the Plainsman Museum, which showcases local and county history, would be ideal. If you prefer to get outside, take us one at the Aurora Parkview Swimming Pool, which is great for all ages, or play some golf at the Poco Creek Golf Course.

Aurora is also extremely safe. According to AreaVibes, the overall crime rate is 72% lower than the national average, and they gave it an A+ for overall safety. They conducted a survey of Aurora residents, and 100% of those residents confirmed that they felt safe and secure, even at night, and concluded that there was virtually no crime in their neighborhoods.

Cost-wise, Aurora falls within the affordable range as well. Zillow lists the median home sale price for 2025 so far at around $260,000, which, while not the lowest on the list so far, is over $100,000 less than the national average. It is also around $50,000 less than Kearney, which is arguably the closest big city. This makes Aurora a great option if you want to be near big urban centers for activities but don't want to pay big urban prices.

Milford

Near the Nebraska state capital of Lincoln, Milford offers close distance to the big city, but its own small-town feel, with only around two thousand permanent residents. It offers a warm and welcoming community with multiple places available to spend time with old friends as well as make new ones. Some examples include the Thornridge Golf Course, which offers long term membership programs and singular tee-time bookings, or the Milford Swimming Pool, which you can purchase a summer membership for or a one-day pass for only $5. You could also go shopping at the Main Street Market, a locally owned store and deli with plenty of homemade goods, or if you are a retiree over 60, hang out at the Milford Senior Center for daily morning coffee and afternoon lunches, weekly exercise classes, or team softball.

AreaVibes also gives Milford a safety rating of A+ and lists the overall crime rate as 76% lower than the national average. These numbers are also drastically lower than the crime rate for the nearby larger city of Lincoln, which were listed earlier on this list as much higher than the national average. That means that similarly to Holdrege, Milford has the convenience of Lincoln's great medical care within reach, but it is much safer to live in, providing an environment where you can feel secure spending time outside your home. Milford received an A+ grade for cost of living from AreaVibes as well, with the overall living costs listed at 5% lower than the national average, and 15% lower specifically for housing costs.

There is not a lot of data out there for the median home sale price for 2025 so far, but Realtor.com states that there are currently 27 homes listed for sale, and the median price for those listings is $285,000, which is lower than both the national and state averages. The listings show mostly craftsman style homes on a mix of small and large plots, some with upwards of ten acres. If you or one of your loved ones require a higher level of care than the local Milford Family Medical Center can provide, such as 24-hour assistance, Milford also has a nursing home located near town, called the Sunrise Country Manor.

Valentine

As far as top-notch medical care goes, a small city surrounded by scenic sandhills like Valentine might not be at the forefront of your mind. Luckily for retirees, the Cherry County Hospital located there is listed in the top twenty best hospitals in the state by US News. The suburban area also offers a few different assisted living communities including Good Samaritan Society and Cherry Hills Estates. If independent living is still fine for you, buying a home in Valentine is also very affordable, with the median home sale price for 2025 being listed by Zillow at around $240,000.

Valentine is known for being a very nice place to live in general. It definitely embraces its small town feel; it has a charming downtown area and plenty of beautiful outdoor locations nearby, which are perfect for getting some sun and staying active. Smith Falls State Park, home to Nebraska's tallest waterfall, is great for hiking and fishing. Nearby Niobrara National Scenic River flows through 76 miles of federally preserved land, perfect for kayaking and canoeing with its relatively calm waters. If you want to stay inside and enjoy food and drinks, Valentine has plenty of options for that too, including the Old Mill restaurant or Bolo Beer Co.

Nebraska is a great state to retire for many reasons. For one, it hosts beautiful scenery and endless outdoor recreational opportunities for older folks who are looking to keep an active, healthy and happy lifestyle. Plus, all of the towns on this list, from more populous cities like Kearney to smaller towns like Milford, offer charming downtown areas with plenty of facilities and resources for senior citizens, so you can meet and bond with people your own age. Finally, Nebraska offers peace of mind, being very safe and having low housing prices and general costs of living, so you can spend your golden years as worry-free as possible, relaxing and loving your life.