Median Age
38 Years
Largest Age Group
15-24 Years
Approximately 15% of Residents
Under 20
26%
Over 65
20%
Hastings
Hastings, NE Area Guide
Avg Rent
$1,147
Population
24,738
Renter Mix
38% Rent
A picturesque oasis in the heart of the Nebraska prairie
Rural
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College
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Rail Service
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Amtrak
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Hastings is a small city in south-central Nebraska, located about 25 miles south of Grand Island. The entire community exudes a timeless small-town atmosphere, particularly in the historic Downtown district: start your day with a caffeine boost at Blue Moon Coffee Company, or wind down with a cold pint at First Street Brewing Company. The city’s Highlands Park is home to the famous Fisher Rainbow Fountain, a local landmark and the largest water fountain for hundreds of miles around.
On the east side, Hastings College and Central Community College serve as cultural hubs for the city and employ many locals. The local rental market features a diverse selection of apartments, condos, and single-family homes, with great options available for any taste, budget, or lifestyle.
Explore the City
Parks are dotted throughout Hastings.
You can find both new and old homes in Hastings.
Downtown Hastings gets busy during the weekends and evenings.
Demographics
Median Household Income
$56,955
Average: $74,553
Education
5,267
Residents Have a Degree
Job Market
12,666
Workers Employed
Age Distribution
Get a sense of this area's population profile.
Housing Distribution
Hastings has more homeowners than renters.
Renters
38%
Non-Renters
62%
Education Distribution
Review this city's overall education levels.
Bachelor's or Higher
17%
Other Education
83%
Rent Trends
As of May 2026, the average apartment rent in Hastings, NE is $1,078 for a studio, $1,147 for one bedroom, $953 for two bedrooms, and $1,001 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Hastings has increased by 1.2% in the past year.
Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$1,147/month
583 Sq Ft
Cost of Living
The cost of living in Hastings, NE is 14.8% lower than the national average. Generally, housing in Hastings is 26.9% less expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $953 - $1,147. You can expect to pay 7.5% less for groceries, 20.2% less for utilities, and 4.3% less for transportation.
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Getting Around
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Hastings, NE is for everyday living.
Fairly Walkable
Walkability
40
/ 100
Exceptionally Drivable
Drivability
100
/ 100
Fairly Bikeable
Bikeability
40
/ 100
Scores provided by
Schools
Public
Grades PK-5
346 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
307 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
332 Students
Raymond A Watson Elementary School
Public
Grades PK-5
332 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
299 Students
Adams Central Jr-Sr High School
Public
Grades 6-12
430 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
780 Students
Public
Grades 7-8
1 Students
Public
Grades PK-12
Adams Central Jr-Sr High School
Public
Grades 6-12
430 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
1,067 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
14 Students
Public
Grades PK-12
School data provided by
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
Points of Interest
Shopping Centers
Parks and Recreation
- Hastings Museum of Natural & Cultural History
- Children's Museum of Central Nebraska
- Prairie Loft Education Center
Commuter Rail
Airports
- Central Nebraska Regional
Colleges
Top Apartments in Hastings
Houses for Rent in Hastings
Search Nearby Rentals
Nearby City Rentals
Methodology
† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.
Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.