# Nebraska statistical areas

The U.S. State of Nebraska currently has 16 statistical areas that have been delineated by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). On July 21, 2023, the OMB delineated three combined statistical areas, four metropolitan statistical areas, and nine micropolitan statistical areas in Nebraska. As of 2023, the largest of these is the Omaha-Fremont, NE-IA CSA, comprising the area around Nebraska's largest city, Omaha.

## Background

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has designated more than 1,000 statistical areas for the United States and Puerto Rico. These statistical areas are important geographic delineations of population clusters used by the OMB, the United States Census Bureau, planning organizations, and federal, state, and local government entities.
The OMB defines a core-based statistical area (commonly referred to as a CBSA) as the county or counties (or county-equivalents) surrounding at least one densely-settled core of at least 10,000 population, "plus adjacent counties having a high degree of social and economic integration with the core as measured through commuting ties with the counties containing the core". The OMB further divides core-based statistical areas based on population into metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) for those with at least 50,000 and micropolitan statistical areas (μSAs) for those with 10,000 to 49,999 people.
The OMB defines a combined statistical area (CSA) as two or more adjacent core-based statistical areas where the employment interchange rate (% commuting from A to B plus % commuting from B to A) is at least 15%. The primary statistical areas (PSAs) include all combined statistical areas and any core-based statistical area that is not a constituent of a combined statistical area.

## Table

The 16 United States statistical areas and 93 counties of the State of Nebraska :
| Combined statistical area | 2023 population (est.) | Core-based statistical area | 2023 population (est.) | County | 2023 population (est.) |
| Omaha-Fremont, NE-IA CSA | 1,021,156 898,674 (NE) | Omaha, NE-IA MSA | 983,969 861,487 (NE) | Douglas County, Nebraska | 589,540 |
| Omaha-Fremont, NE-IA CSA | 1,021,156 898,674 (NE) | Omaha, NE-IA MSA | 983,969 861,487 (NE) | Sarpy County, Nebraska | 199,886 |
| Omaha-Fremont, NE-IA CSA | 1,021,156 898,674 (NE) | Omaha, NE-IA MSA | 983,969 861,487 (NE) | Pottawattamie County, Iowa | 93,179 |
| Omaha-Fremont, NE-IA CSA | 1,021,156 898,674 (NE) | Omaha, NE-IA MSA | 983,969 861,487 (NE) | Cass County, Nebraska | 27,446 |
| Omaha-Fremont, NE-IA CSA | 1,021,156 898,674 (NE) | Omaha, NE-IA MSA | 983,969 861,487 (NE) | Saunders County, Nebraska | 23,463 |
| Omaha-Fremont, NE-IA CSA | 1,021,156 898,674 (NE) | Omaha, NE-IA MSA | 983,969 861,487 (NE) | Washington County, Nebraska | 21,152 |
| Omaha-Fremont, NE-IA CSA | 1,021,156 898,674 (NE) | Omaha, NE-IA MSA | 983,969 861,487 (NE) | Harrison County, Iowa | 14,670 |
| Omaha-Fremont, NE-IA CSA | 1,021,156 898,674 (NE) | Omaha, NE-IA MSA | 983,969 861,487 (NE) | Mills County, Iowa | 14,633 |
| Omaha-Fremont, NE-IA CSA | 1,021,156 898,674 (NE) | Fremont, NE μSA | 37,187 | Dodge County, Nebraska | 37,187 |
| Lincoln-Beatrice, NE CSA | 366,021 | Lincoln, NE MSA | 344,387 | Lancaster County, Nebraska | 326,716 |
| Lincoln-Beatrice, NE CSA | 366,021 | Lincoln, NE MSA | 344,387 | Seward County, Nebraska | 17,671 |
| Lincoln-Beatrice, NE CSA | 366,021 | Beatrice, NE μSA | 21,634 | Gage County, Nebraska | 21,634 |
| none | none | Grand Island, NE MSA | 76,479 | Hall County, Nebraska | 62,197 |
| none | none | Grand Island, NE MSA | 76,479 | Merrick County, Nebraska | 7,755 |
| none | none | Grand Island, NE MSA | 76,479 | Howard County, Nebraska | 6,527 |
| none | none | Kearney, NE μSA | 57,467 | Buffalo County, Nebraska | 50,697 |
| none | none | Kearney, NE μSA | 57,467 | Kearney County, Nebraska | 6,770 |
| none | none | Norfolk, NE μSA | 48,782 | Madison County, Nebraska | 35,627 |
| none | none | Norfolk, NE μSA | 48,782 | Pierce County, Nebraska | 7,299 |
| none | none | Norfolk, NE μSA | 48,782 | Stanton County, Nebraska | 5,856 |
| none | none | Columbus, NE μSA | 45,175 | Platte County, Nebraska | 34,609 |
| none | none | Columbus, NE μSA | 45,175 | Colfax County, Nebraska | 10,566 |
| none | none | Hastings, NE μSA | 40,366 | Adams County, Nebraska | 30,899 |
| none | none | Hastings, NE μSA | 40,366 | Clay County, Nebraska | 6,116 |
| none | none | Hastings, NE μSA | 40,366 | Webster County, Nebraska | 3,351 |
| none | none | Scottsbluff, NE μSA | 36,373 | Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska | 35,699 |
| none | none | Scottsbluff, NE μSA | 36,373 | Banner County, Nebraska | 674 |
| none | none | North Platte, NE μSA | 34,020 | Lincoln County, Nebraska | 33,365 |
| none | none | North Platte, NE μSA | 34,020 | Logan County, Nebraska | 655 |
| none | none | Lexington, NE μSA | 25,932 | Dawson County, Nebraska | 24,085 |
| none | none | Lexington, NE μSA | 25,932 | Gosper County, Nebraska | 1,847 |
| Sioux City-Le Mars, IA-NE-SD CSA | 170,124 21,268 (NE) | Sioux City, IA-NE-SD MSA | 144,402 21,268 (NE) | Woodbury County, Iowa | 105,951 |
| Sioux City-Le Mars, IA-NE-SD CSA | 170,124 21,268 (NE) | Sioux City, IA-NE-SD MSA | 144,402 21,268 (NE) | Dakota County, Nebraska | 21,268 |
| Sioux City-Le Mars, IA-NE-SD CSA | 170,124 21,268 (NE) | Sioux City, IA-NE-SD MSA | 144,402 21,268 (NE) | Union County, South Dakota | 17,183 |
| Sioux City-Le Mars, IA-NE-SD CSA | 170,124 21,268 (NE) | Le Mars, IA μSA | 25,722 | Plymouth County, Iowa | 25,722 |
| none | none | none | none | Otoe County, Nebraska | 16,335 |
| none | none | none | none | Saline County, Nebraska | 14,555 |
| none | none | none | none | York County, Nebraska | 14,356 |
| none | none | none | none | Box Butte County, Nebraska | 10,692 |
| none | none | none | none | Custer County, Nebraska | 10,581 |
| none | none | none | none | Red Willow County, Nebraska | 10,457 |
| none | none | none | none | Holt County, Nebraska | 10,093 |
| none | none | none | none | Wayne County, Nebraska | 9,874 |
| none | none | none | none | Cheyenne County, Nebraska | 9,541 |
| none | none | none | none | Hamilton County, Nebraska | 9,537 |
| none | none | none | none | Phelps County, Nebraska | 9,057 |
| none | none | none | none | Cuming County, Nebraska | 8,918 |
| none | none | none | none | Butler County, Nebraska | 8,459 |
| none | none | none | none | Knox County, Nebraska | 8,298 |
| none | none | none | none | Cedar County, Nebraska | 8,262 |
| none | none | none | none | Dawes County, Nebraska | 8,133 |
| none | none | none | none | Keith County, Nebraska | 8,113 |
| none | none | none | none | Richardson County, Nebraska | 7,689 |
| none | none | none | none | Nemaha County, Nebraska | 7,076 |
| none | none | none | none | Jefferson County, Nebraska | 7,054 |
| none | none | none | none | Burt County, Nebraska | 6,727 |
| none | none | none | none | Thurston County, Nebraska | 6,557 |
| none | none | none | none | Antelope County, Nebraska | 6,302 |
| none | none | none | none | Fillmore County, Nebraska | 5,548 |
| none | none | none | none | Cherry County, Nebraska | 5,492 |
| none | none | none | none | Dixon County, Nebraska | 5,491 |
| none | none | none | none | Boone County, Nebraska | 5,310 |
| none | none | none | none | Polk County, Nebraska | 5,228 |
| none | none | none | none | Johnson County, Nebraska | 5,198 |
| none | none | none | none | Sheridan County, Nebraska | 4,928 |
| none | none | none | none | Thayer County, Nebraska | 4,829 |
| none | none | none | none | Furnas County, Nebraska | 4,556 |
| none | none | none | none | Morrill County, Nebraska | 4,504 |
| none | none | none | none | Nuckolls County, Nebraska | 4,095 |
| none | none | none | none | Valley County, Nebraska | 4,012 |
| none | none | none | none | Chase County, Nebraska | 3,724 |
| none | none | none | none | Kimball County, Nebraska | 3,289 |
| none | none | none | none | Nance County, Nebraska | 3,274 |
| none | none | none | none | Harlan County, Nebraska | 3,045 |
| none | none | none | none | Sherman County, Nebraska | 2,983 |
| none | none | none | none | Brown County, Nebraska | 2,853 |
| none | none | none | none | Franklin County, Nebraska | 2,825 |
| none | none | none | none | Perkins County, Nebraska | 2,795 |
| none | none | none | none | Frontier County, Nebraska | 2,585 |
| none | none | none | none | Hitchcock County, Nebraska | 2,552 |
| none | none | none | none | Pawnee County, Nebraska | 2,512 |
| none | none | none | none | Greeley County, Nebraska | 2,219 |
| none | none | none | none | Deuel County, Nebraska | 1,871 |
| none | none | none | none | Garden County, Nebraska | 1,794 |
| none | none | none | none | Garfield County, Nebraska | 1,763 |
| none | none | none | none | Boyd County, Nebraska | 1,725 |
| none | none | none | none | Dundy County, Nebraska | 1,561 |
| none | none | none | none | Rock County, Nebraska | 1,271 |
| none | none | none | none | Sioux County, Nebraska | 1,154 |
| none | none | none | none | Hayes County, Nebraska | 846 |
| none | none | none | none | Keya Paha County, Nebraska | 805 |
| none | none | none | none | Wheeler County, Nebraska | 775 |
| none | none | none | none | Hooker County, Nebraska | 679 |
| none | none | none | none | Thomas County, Nebraska | 677 |
| none | none | none | none | Loup County, Nebraska | 592 |
| none | none | none | none | Grant County, Nebraska | 565 |
| none | none | none | none | Blaine County, Nebraska | 436 |
| none | none | none | none | Arthur County, Nebraska | 412 |
| none | none | none | none | McPherson County, Nebraska | 383 |
| State of Nebraska | State of Nebraska | State of Nebraska | State of Nebraska | State of Nebraska | 1,978,379 |

## Core-based statistical areas

The following table provides the in-state population ranking of each CBSA along with its rate of population change over time.
The 13 core-based statistical areas of the State of Nebraska :
| 2023 rank | Core-based statistical area | Population | Population | Population | Population | Population |
| 2023 rank | Core-based statistical area | 2023 estimate | Change | 2020 Census | Change | 2010 Census |
| 1 | Omaha, NE-IA MSA (NE) | 861,487 | +1.97% | 844,871 | +13.83% | 742,205 |
| 2 | Lincoln, NE MSA | 344,387 | +1.23% | 340,217 | +12.60% | 302,157 |
| 3 | Grand Island, NE MSA | 76,479 | −0.73% | 77,038 | +5.93% | 72,726 |
| 4 | Kearney, NE μSA | 57,467 | +1.22% | 56,772 | +7.95% | 52,591 |
| 5 | Norfolk, NE μSA | 48,782 | +0.08% | 48,744 | +0.98% | 48,271 |
| 6 | Columbus, NE μSA | 45,175 | +0.66% | 44,878 | +4.97% | 42,752 |
| 7 | Hastings, NE μSA | 40,366 | −0.83% | 40,704 | −2.43% | 41,718 |
| 8 | Fremont, NE μSA | 37,187 | +0.05% | 37,167 | +1.30% | 36,691 |
| 9 | Scottsbluff, NE μSA | 36,373 | −1.05% | 36,758 | −2.40% | 37,660 |
| 10 | North Platte, NE μSA | 34,020 | −3.88% | 35,392 | −4.48% | 37,051 |
| 11 | Lexington, NE μSA | 25,932 | −0.28% | 26,004 | −1.39% | 26,370 |
| 12 | Beatrice, NE μSA | 21,634 | −0.32% | 21,704 | −2.72% | 22,311 |
| 13 | Sioux City, IA-NE-SD MSA (NE) | 21,268 | −1.45% | 21,582 | +2.74% | 21,006 |
| | Omaha, NE-IA MSA | 983,969 | +1.69% | 967,604 | +11.82% | 865,350 |
| | Sioux City, IA-NE-SD CSA | 144,402 | +0.05% | 144,334 | +4.91% | 137,577 |

## Combined statistical areas

The following table provides the in-state population ranking of each CSA along with its rate of population change over time.
The three combined statistical areas of the State of Nebraska :
| 2023 rank | Combined statistical area | Population | Population | Population | Population | Population |
| 2023 rank | Combined statistical area | 2023 estimate | Change | 2020 Census | Change | 2010 Census |
| 1 | Omaha-Fremont, NE-IA CSA (NE) | 898,674 | +1.89% | 882,038 | +13.24% | 778,896 |
| 2 | Lincoln-Beatrice, NE CSA | 366,021 | +1.13% | 361,921 | +11.54% | 324,468 |
| 3 | Sioux City-Le Mars, IA-NE-SD CSA (IA) | 21,268 | −1.45% | 21,582 | +2.74% | 21,006 |
| | Omaha-Fremont, NE-IA CSA | 1,021,156 | +1.63% | 1,004,771 | +11.39% | 902,041 |
| | Sioux City-Le Mars, IA-NE-SD CSA | 170,124 | +0.05% | 170,032 | +4.59% | 162,563 |