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Best Cities for Rental Property in Nebraska

10 Nebraska cities ranked by estimated cap rate. The average cap rate across Nebraska markets is 3.3%, with median home prices averaging $250K and rents averaging $1,258/mo. Lexington leads with a 4.6% cap rate at a $205K median price. Note that Nebraska's average property tax rate of 1.62% is above the national average — factor this into your underwriting.

3.3%
Avg Cap Rate
$250K
Avg Price
$1,258/mo
Avg Rent
10
Cities Tracked

Nebraska Rental Market Analysis

Nebraska offers 10 investable rental markets tracked by CapRateCity. The state average cap rate of 3.3% is near the 3.81% national average. No cities pass the 1% rule at median prices, so value-add strategies are essential.

Prices and rents: Nebraska home prices average $250K, which is 25% below the national average of $333K. Rents average $1,258/mo. The most affordable entry point is Beatrice at $190K, while Lexington offers the highest cap rate at 4.6%.

Taxes and costs: Property taxes average 1.62% across Nebraska, above the 1.08% national average — investors should model tax expense carefully. Grand Island has the lowest rate at 1.6%.Vacancy averages 5.2%, tighter than the national average — favorable for landlords.

Growth outlook: Population growth across Nebraska averages 0.70% per year, led by Lincoln at 0.9%. Home values are appreciating at 2.5% annually on average. Moderate growth provides a stable demand foundation.

Bottom line: Nebraska is primarily an appreciation market. Cash flow investing requires below-median purchases or value-add strategies. Consider whether the growth and appreciation potential justifies tighter margins.

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How Nebraska Compares to National Averages

Metric
Nebraska
National Avg
Avg Cap Rate
3.3%
3.8%
Avg Home Price
$250K
$333K
Avg Rent
$1,258/mo
$1,524/mo
Property Tax
1.62%
1.08%
Vacancy Rate
5.2%
5.6%
Pop. Growth
0.70%/yr
0.92%/yr

Nebraska Cities by Cap Rate Tier

4% – 5% (2)3% – 4% (4)Below 3% (4)

All 10 Nebraska Cities Ranked

1
Lexington, NE4.6% cap rate
$205K median$1,270/mo rent1.62% tax0.7% growth
2
Columbus, NE4.0% cap rate
$270K median$1,530/mo rent1.62% tax0.7% growth
3
Beatrice, NE3.7% cap rate
$190K median$1,020/mo rent1.62% tax0.7% growth
4
Kearney, NE3.6% cap rate
$295K median$1,570/mo rent1.62% tax0.7% growth
5
Norfolk, NE3.4% cap rate
$245K median$1,250/mo rent1.62% tax0.7% growth
6
Grand Island, NE3.3% cap rate
$250K median$1,250/mo rent1.6% tax0.4% growth
7
Fremont, NE2.9% cap rate
$235K median$1,090/mo rent1.62% tax0.7% growth
8
Omaha, NE2.8% cap rate
$300K median$1,390/mo rent1.65% tax0.8% growth
9
Lincoln, NE2.6% cap rate
$295K median$1,290/mo rent1.62% tax0.9% growth
10
North Platte, NE2.4% cap rate
$215K median$920/mo rent1.62% tax0.7% growth

Other Midwest States

Illinois (17 cities · 4.4% avg)Indiana (25 cities · 4.0% avg)Michigan (22 cities · 3.9% avg)Kansas (14 cities · 3.8% avg)Ohio (27 cities · 3.7% avg)Missouri (17 cities · 3.3% avg)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Nebraska a good state for rental property investing?
Nebraska has an average cap rate of 3.3% across 10 cities. The best-performing city is Lexington at 4.6%. Average home prices of $250K offer affordable entry points. Property taxes at 1.62% are a consideration.
What is the best city to buy rental property in Nebraska?
Lexington leads Nebraska with a 4.6% cap rate, $205K median price, and $1,270/mo rent. The best city depends on your strategy — cash flow investors should look at the top of this ranking, while growth-focused investors may prefer Lincoln (0.9% population growth). Use the calculators on each city page to model specific deals.
What are property taxes like in Nebraska?
Property taxes in Nebraska average 1.62%, which is above the 1.08% national average. The lowest rate is in Grand Island at 1.6%. On an average-priced home of $250K, annual taxes are approximately $4,053.
How many Nebraska cities pass the 1% rule?
0 of 10 Nebraska cities (0%) pass the 1% rule at median prices. None pass at median prices, meaning investors should target below-median properties or use value-add strategies to improve returns. The 1% rule says monthly rent should be at least 1% of purchase price.

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