RANK #789 / 1001 NAT · POP 197,389
1YR FORECAST: +0.5%
5YR OUTLOOK: +24%
Bellevue, Nebraska's oldest contiguous city, anchors Sarpy County, located immediately south of Omaha. This position places residents within a short drive of Omaha's urban amenities, with commutes generally manageable. The county itself offers a blend of suburban living and natural scenery, bordered by the Platte and Missouri Rivers. Outdoor recreation is a key draw, with Fontenelle Forest providing miles of trails, wetlands, and a raptor exhibit, while Walnut Creek Recreation Area features a reservoir for boating and fishing, alongside extensive trails.
Life in Sarpy County often appeals to families and young professionals, drawn by highly-rated public schools and family-friendly neighborhoods. The economy is expanding, with significant investment in sectors like advanced manufacturing, technology, and defense, partly due to the presence of Offutt Air Force Base. This growth is supported by ongoing infrastructure improvements, including road projects, and a focus on workforce development.
Sarpy County is one of 110 U.S. counties in this market profile — weaker than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +1.9% runs below the profile's typical +2.4%.
See all 110 Educated Suburban Growth counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Above national median
Below-average climate & terrain
Above national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 12.3x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Google Data Center Expansion (Papillion)
Google
|
$500M | Operating |
|
Turtle Creek Station (Natural Gas Power Plant)
Omaha Public Power District (OPPD)
|
$450M | Operating |
|
Meta Sarpy Data Center Campus Expansion
Meta
|
$400M | Operating |
|
Amazon Fulfillment Center (Papillion)
Amazon
|
$203M | Operating |
|
South Sarpy Expressway (10th Street to 42nd Street)
Sarpy County
|
$62M | Under Construction |
|
Meridian Marketplace Redevelopment (Mixed-Use)
Unknown
|
$50M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
At 20/100, Sarpy County faces headwinds that place it in the lower third of the 1001 counties we track. Median income of $103,321 combined with job growth of +3.1% suggests the local economy is struggling to keep pace with national trends.
Housing in Sarpy County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $314,100 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.33, with rents averaging $1,334/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Sarpy County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +1.7% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +3.1% clip. Home values shifted +1.9% in the past year.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 4.46% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Sarpy County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.