Relocation profile · Federal data
Grand Island, NE
LiveAbility 65.2/100 places Grand Island #14 of 387 (top third of scored metros).
- 86.7
- Cost index (US=100)
- $1,215
- 2BR rent / mo
- $60,012
- Median salary
- 65.2
- LiveAbility Score
The verdict
As of June 2026, Grand Island ranks #14 of 387 US metros on the LiveAbility Score (65.2/100), with its strongest marks in air quality and cost of living.
- #14
- of 387 US metros · Excellent
- 2,005,465
- metro-area population
- 217
- violent crimes per 100K (state-level)
- 1,010
- schools in the state (NCES)
Weakest dimension: climate (30/100). Weigh every dimension against your own priorities, use the City Finder to re-rank by what matters to you.
According to PlainRelocate's LiveAbility composite (BEA, BLS, HUD, FBI, NCES, EPA, NOAA, and FEMA inputs), Grand Island ranks #14 of 387 scored US metros by LiveAbility Score (highest score = #1). Cost-of-living index 86.7 (100 = national average), median 2-bedroom rent $1,215/mo, median salary $60,012; LiveAbility Score 65.2/100, strongest in air quality and cost of living.
Signature: LiveAbility 65.2/100 places Grand Island #14 of 387 (top third of scored metros).
Purchasing power opens up: BEA RPP 86.7 lands in the cheaper third of scored metros (cuts at 91.5 / 97.0). Median 2BR rent $1,215/mo.
LiveAbility 65.2/100 puts Grand Island in the top third (#14 of 387).
BLS OEWS total employment in the Grand Island area is 31,670.
Grand Island vs all US metros by LiveAbility Score
Where this metro's LiveAbility Score falls among every scored US metro (composite placement, not a desirability verdict)
65 Top 4% higher than 96% of 387 US metros
Metros banded by LiveAbility Score (0–100)
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source PlainRelocate LiveAbility Score · June 2026
Grand Island housing and rent
HUD Fair Market Rents for the Grand Island MSA; housing RPP 61.7 (100 = national average); 2BR $1,215/mo.
Grand Island wages and employment
Grand Island posts 31,670 total employment with median salary $60,012 against a cheaper-than-average RPP.
Top Occupations by Employment
| Occupation | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,150 |
| Retail Salespersons | $30,830 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $60,810 |
| General and Operations Managers | $79,520 |
| Cashiers | $30,050 |
Schools & Education
State-level education data for the Grand Island area from NCES.
Childcare Costs
State-average childcare costs for the Grand Island area (DOL data).
Life Score Breakdown
Grand Island's composite Life Score is 61.1/100 (C), computed across 7 of 7 dimensions.
LiveAbility Score
View full rankings →Grand Island ranks #14 out of 387 metros with a LiveAbility Score of 65.2/100 - a composite of 8 of 8 quality-of-life dimensions from federal data. Customize the weights to match your priorities →
Grand Island - dimension scores
Percentile vs all US metros (100 = best in the nation for that dimension)
- Air quality
Air quality
94 /100
- Cost of living
Cost of living
93 /100
- Safety
Safety
82 /100
- Schools
Schools
80 /100
- Housing
Housing
62 /100
- Job market 33
Job market
33 /100
- Low hazard 30
Low hazard
30 /100
- Climate 30
Climate
30 /100
What this shows Grand Island's strongest dimensions are air quality and cost of living; its weakest among scored dims is climate at 30/100. Default weights: cost 18%, jobs & housing 15% each, safety & schools 12%, air & hazard 10%, climate 8%.
Compare Grand Island to
Metros near Grand Island on cost, LiveAbility, or wages
Nearest out-of-state neighbors to Grand Island on BEA RPP, LiveAbility, or BLS median salary, a different lens than the size-ranked list.
Similar cost of living (BEA RPP)
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026
Grand Island cost figures follow BEA Regional Price Parities and HUD Fair Market Rents; Grand Island wages and LiveAbility inputs follow BLS OEWS plus the federal sources listed in methodology. This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Scores are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation. How this data is sourced.
Verify with BEA → · Verify with BLS → · Verify with HUD → · Verify with NOAA → · Verify with FEMA → · Verify with Census →
Thinking about Grand Island?
Grand Island runs a $60,012 median salary at a 86.7 cost index, ranking #14 of 387 nationally on LiveAbility.
- See exactly what Grand Island's pay and cost figures mean for your own budget. Salary calculator
- Put Grand Island head-to-head against another city on the same dimensions. Compare Grand Island
- Abilene is the closest related metro in this corpus -- see how it stacks up. Abilene profile
- A cheaper cost index and a higher LiveAbility score don't always point the same direction -- here's how to weigh the trade-off. Cost vs quality guide
Cost, salary and score figures are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation.