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Quality of Life in Phelps County
A livable area that tracks near national norms for affordability, walkability, and neighborhood health.
What does Quality of Life tell us?
Quality of Life measures an area by evaluating factors like cost of living, nearby amenities, country club access, airport proximity, socioeconomic signals and neighborhood character. For large states, this is a general average — quality of life can vary dramatically between metro areas, suburbs, and rural communities within the same state.
What does this tell us?
Quality of Life measures an area by evaluating factors like cost of living, nearby amenities, country club access, airport proximity, socioeconomic signals and neighborhood character. For large states, this is a general average — quality of life can vary dramatically between metro areas, suburbs, and rural communities within the same state.
Cost of Living
38% below national average
133%
The Real Cost of Living in Phelps County for 2026
| Tier | Individual | Family (4) |
|---|---|---|
| Survival | $12k | $22k |
| Comfortable | $34k | $49k |
| Luxury | $119k+ | $185k+ |
| Elite (Top 5%) | $151k+ | $233k+ |
Quality-of-Life Analysis
Phelps County, Nebraska, offers a distinct quality-of-life spectrum that ranges from the full-service county seat of Holdrege to quiet, unincorporated farming hamlets like Loomis and Bertrand, attracting everyone from young families seeking affordable starter homes to retirees looking for slow-paced, land-based living. The county’s overall character is rooted in agriculture and small-town self-reliance, with a cost-of-living index of 62 (well below the U.S. average of 100) and a median home value of $173,300, making it one of the most affordable places in the state to own a home. Residents here typically enjoy very short commutes—averaging just 14.6 minutes—which means more time for family, hobbies, or working the land. The trade-off is that the range of daily amenities narrows quickly as you move away from Holdrege, and the social fabric shifts from organized community events to the quieter rhythms of rural life.
Largest town(s) & population centers
Holdrege is the county’s undisputed hub, home to roughly 5,500 people and the vast majority of Phelps County’s jobs, retail, and services. Daily life here revolves around the downtown square, the Phelps County Courthouse, and major employers like Becton Dickinson (medical device manufacturing) and Central Community College’s Holdrege campus. Residents have access to a full-service hospital (Phelps Memorial Health Center), a public library, multiple grocery stores, and a handful of locally owned restaurants and cafes. The Holdrege school district is the largest in the county, drawing students from surrounding towns. For families, the town offers organized youth sports, a municipal swimming pool, and the Tassel Performing Arts Center. Commute times within Holdrege are negligible—often under 10 minutes—and median rent of $724 makes it easy for single workers or couples to live alone without a roommate. The trade-off is that Holdrege is not a nightlife destination; entertainment is largely home- or community-event-based.
Smaller towns & rural pockets
Beyond Holdrege, the county’s smaller communities offer a distinctly quieter, more land-oriented lifestyle. Bertrand (pop. ~750) sits along U.S. Highway 6/34 and has a small grocery store, a post office, and a K-12 school that serves the surrounding farm families. Funk (pop. ~190) is a tiny village with a grain elevator and a volunteer fire department, where most residents commute to Holdrege or work in agriculture. Loomis (pop. ~380) is similar, with a single convenience store and a strong 4-H and FFA presence. The unincorporated area of Westmark is essentially a crossroads with a few homes and no commercial services. In these pockets, daily life means longer drives for groceries or medical care—typically 15–25 minutes to Holdrege—but residents gain larger lots, lower property taxes, and the ability to keep livestock or farm equipment on their property. The social calendar is dominated by church suppers, school sports, and county fair events rather than organized municipal programming.
Cost & lifestyle range
The cost-of-living spread across Phelps County is narrow in absolute terms but meaningful in lifestyle. At the low end, a two-bedroom rental in Funk or Loomis can be found for $500–$600 per month, and a fixer-upper home on a half-acre lot in Bertrand might sell for $120,000–$140,000. At the higher end, newer construction in Holdrege’s subdivisions—such as those near the golf course or the hospital—can reach $250,000–$300,000, still far below national averages. The median home value of $173,300 sits squarely in the middle, reflecting the county’s lack of a luxury market. Amenities follow a clear gradient: Holdrege offers a Walmart Supercenter, a hardware store, and a medical clinic with specialists; Bertrand has a single gas station with basic groceries; Funk and Loomis have no retail at all. For daily errands, a Holdrege resident can walk to the post office or drive 5 minutes to the grocery store, while a Funk resident must budget a 20-minute round trip for milk. The trade-off is that rural residents pay less in property taxes and enjoy more privacy, while Holdrege residents pay slightly more for the convenience of proximity.
Who thrives in Phelps County? The county is best suited for people who value affordability, short commutes, and a strong sense of community over urban diversity or entertainment options. Young families with ties to agriculture or manufacturing find a stable, low-cost environment to raise children. Retirees on fixed incomes can stretch their savings further here than almost anywhere else in the U.S. Remote workers who need only a reliable internet connection (available in Holdrege and Bertrand, less reliable in Funk) can enjoy a very low cost of living. Those who crave walkable urbanism, fine dining, or cultural variety will feel constrained; but for anyone seeking a quiet, land-based life with a solid community backbone, Phelps County delivers a rare combination of low cost and high livability.
Crime in Phelps County
Generally safer than 65% of comparable U.S. locations.
Violent CrimeViolent Crime Analysis
Property CrimeProperty Crime Analysis
Crime Analysis
Phelps County, Nebraska, presents a mixed safety profile that is significantly shaped by its small-town character and the policies of its local justice system. With a violent crime rate of 215.2 per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1,378.5 per 100,000, the county is safer than many urban areas but faces specific challenges, particularly in its largest town, Holdrege. The county’s overall safety picture is heavily influenced by the effectiveness of local law enforcement and the judicial philosophy of the district court, which covers the 10th Judicial District.
Crime in context
When compared to Nebraska’s statewide averages, Phelps County’s violent crime rate is roughly on par, while its property crime rate is notably higher. The state’s violent crime rate hovers around 230 per 100,000, placing Phelps County slightly below that mark. However, the county’s property crime rate exceeds the Nebraska average of approximately 1,200 per 100,000, indicating a more pronounced issue with theft, burglary, and vandalism. Nationally, the U.S. violent crime rate sits near 380 per 100,000, making Phelps County significantly safer than the national average for violent offenses. The elevated property crime rate is a concern, but it is typical for rural counties where agricultural equipment and outbuildings are frequent targets. The 10th Judicial District, which includes Phelps County, has not adopted the progressive prosecutorial policies seen in larger urban jurisdictions like Lincoln or Omaha, meaning offenders here are more likely to face traditional sentencing. This conservative judicial approach is a positive factor for residents, as it reduces the likelihood of repeat offenders being released quickly back into the community.
What residents experience
Daily life in Phelps County is generally quiet, but residents in Holdrege, the county seat and largest community, report the most frequent encounters with crime. Holdrege accounts for the majority of the county’s reported incidents, particularly property crimes like theft from vehicles and burglaries of storage units. The town’s position along Interstate 80 makes it a convenient stop for transient criminals, a pattern seen in other Nebraska communities along the corridor. In contrast, smaller towns such as Bertrand, Funk, and Loomis experience very low crime rates, with many years passing without a single violent crime. These villages benefit from tight-knit populations where suspicious activity is quickly reported. The Phelps County Sheriff’s Office maintains a visible presence in these rural areas, and the Holdrege Police Department is proactive in community policing. The absence of progressive district attorneys in this judicial district means that when arrests are made, convictions and sentences are more predictable, which acts as a deterrent. Residents in the unincorporated areas, particularly around Atlanta, should secure farm equipment and outbuildings, as rural property crime is the most persistent issue.
Neighborhood-level variation within Phelps County is primarily a function of population density and proximity to major highways. The core of Holdrege, especially areas near the downtown business district and the railroad tracks, sees higher foot traffic and a corresponding uptick in petty theft and occasional vandalism. The residential neighborhoods on the north and west sides of Holdrege, including the area around the Phelps County Memorial Hospital, are generally considered safer, with lower incident reports. The county’s rural subdivisions and farmsteads are vulnerable to opportunistic theft, but violent confrontations are extremely rare. For families and retirees, the safest choice is one of the smaller villages or the quieter residential pockets of Holdrege. The conservative judicial philosophy in the 10th District is a clear advantage for Phelps County residents, ensuring that those who commit crimes face meaningful consequences, unlike in jurisdictions with liberal prosecutors who prioritize diversion and leniency. This legal environment directly contributes to the county’s ability to maintain order and protect its citizens.
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-05-08T16:10:36.000Z
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