Norfolk and Hastings receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
Norfolk
Hastings
Opportunity
59 · Top 43%
vs54 · Bottom 46%
Growth
37 · Bottom 28%
vs38 · Bottom 30%
Climate
57 · Bottom 9%
vs60 · Bottom 16%
Physical resilience
27 · Bottom 22%
vs30 · Bottom 24%
Housing affordability
93 · Top 24%
vs100 · Top 8%
Schools
57 · Top 42%
vs55 · Top 46%
Access
65 · Bottom 9%
vs41 · Bottom 2%
Economic stability
58 · Bottom 44%
vs57 · Bottom 44%
Measured values
| Metric | Norfolk | Hastings | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 26,054 | 25,008 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $58,884 | $64,048 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $36,131 | $36,004 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,436/sq mi | 1,677/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $211,700 | $184,700 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $875 | $858 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 60.9% | 65.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.0% | 3.0% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.3% | -3.0% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.0% | 29.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 14.3% | 14.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 68 | 65 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 2.6 | 2.6 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -73.5% | -75.7% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 86°F | 88°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 12°F | 16°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 27.0" | 26.4" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 59 mi | 87 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 14.5 min | 15.4 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 37.3 | 37.3 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 12 | 13 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 14.99 | 13.82 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 44.4% | 44.2% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 50.0% | 46.5% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 51.2% | 44.2% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Norfolk
Elevated or high exposure: hail, tornado, strong wind.
Hastings
Elevated or high exposure: hail, strong wind, lightning.
Full profiles: Norfolk, NE · Hastings, NE · How this is calculated: methodology