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Lancaster County

NE · Pop. 323,673 · Mixed County

34/100Homestead Score

Lancaster County sits in Nebraska across 838 square miles, home to 323,673 people at 386.2 per square mile, a more developed setting where truly rural parcels are scarcer. The agricultural economy is rated strong, built on corn, soybeans, hay. The median home price is $259,000, with an effective property tax rate of 1.57%. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 6a with a 166-day growing season, average summer highs of 86.7°F and average winter lows of 16.1°F. Annual rainfall averages 29 inches, and with drought risk rated very high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. Bryan Medical Center is 0.6 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 99.4% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is very high, tornado risk is very high, wildfire risk is very high, drought risk is very high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.

Property Tax: 1.57%
Growing Season: 166 days
Broadband: 99.4%
Density: 386.2/sq mi

Pros

  • Broadband reaches 99.4% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
  • Bryan Medical Center, with an emergency room, is just 0.6 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
  • A strong agricultural economy built on corn, soybeans, hay means local markets, equipment, and know-how are in place.
  • A low unemployment rate of 2.9% reflects a stable local job base.
  • A low poverty rate of 11.7% signals a relatively stable local economy.

Cons

  • Wildfire risk is very high, requiring defensible space, fire-resistant construction, and an evacuation plan.
  • Tornado risk is very high, so a storm shelter and wind-resistant structures are practical necessities.
  • Flood risk is very high, so careful parcel siting and flood insurance are essential.
  • Drought risk is very high, making water storage and irrigation infrastructure essential rather than optional.
  • An effective property tax rate of 1.57% is on the higher side and adds to annual carrying costs.

At a glance

Lancaster County, NE is a challenging place to homestead on the data.

Homestead score
34/100
Median home price
$259k
Property tax
1.57%
Growing season
166 days (zone 6a)
Annual rainfall
29"
Broadband
99.4%
Nearest hospital
Bryan Medical Center, 0.6 mi

Taxes & Cost of Living

Property Tax Rate1.57%
Median Household Income$72,625
Poverty Rate11.7%

Land & Building

Median Home Price$259K

Climate & Growing

USDA Zone6a
Growing Season166 days
Annual Rainfall29 inches
Avg Summer High86.7°F
Avg Winter Low16.1°F
Top CropsCorn, Soybeans, Hay

Natural Disaster Risk

Drought7/10
Wildfire10/10
Tornado10/10
Flood9/10

Healthcare

Nearest HospitalBryan Medical Center (0.6 mi)
Emergency RoomYes
Healthcare Facilities11

Infrastructure & Community

Broadband Coverage99.4%

Business & Employment

Unemployment Rate2.9%
Ag EconomyStrong

Homesteading in Lancaster County: FAQ

What is the growing season like in Lancaster County?
Lancaster County is in USDA hardiness zone 6a with a 166-day growing season, average summer highs of 86.7°F, and average winter lows of 16.1°F. The established crops are corn, soybeans, hay.
How affordable is land and property here?
The median home price is $259,000 and the effective property tax rate is 1.57%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
Is broadband internet available?
Broadband reaches 99.4% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
How close is healthcare?
Bryan Medical Center is 0.6 miles away and includes an emergency room; there are 11 hospitals in the county.

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Data sources

Verified

Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.