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Sarpy County, NE

Bellevue

RANK #475 / 996 NAT  ·  POP 191,272

1YR FORECAST: +1.3%

5YR OUTLOOK: +24%

Sarpy County's housing market is projected to grow +1.3% over the next year, tracking near the national average.

[01] Why Sarpy County?

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.

[02] Market Snapshot

Housing Ratio
4.8x

Above national median (4.7x)

GDP Growth
+3.2%

Above national median

Home Prices
+1.8%

Above national median

Climate & Terrain
-2.0

Below-average climate & terrain

Price/Rent
15x

Above national median (13x)

Housing is fairly valued at 4.8x relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.

[03] Top Employers

  1. 1
    Offutt Air Force Base Military
    10,000+
  2. 2
    Sarpy County Public Schools (Bellevue, Papillion-La Vista, Gretna) Education
    5,000+
  3. 3
    Werner Enterprises Logistics
  4. 4
    Amazon Logistics
  5. 5
    Kiewit Other
  6. 6
    Nebraska Medicine Bellevue Health Center Healthcare
  7. 7
    Sarpy County Government Government
  8. 8
    Hillcrest Health & Living Healthcare
  9. 9
    Oriental Trading Company Retail
  10. 10
    Streck Manufacturing

Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.

[04] Home Value Growth vs National

Sarpy County U.S. National

The Numbers

DEMOGRAPHICS
Population
191,272
+1.49% YoY
Median Household Income
$95,911
Median Home Value
$263,000
+1.79% 12mo
Median Rent
$1,203
Average Annual Pay
$58,661
+1.6% YoY
Employment
80,883
+2.6% YoY
Income-to-Home-Value
0.3647
More affordable than average
Migration Inflow
3.92%
of pop. from another state
Bachelor's Degree+
41.2%
of residents (national avg: 33%)

Market Activity

REAL ESTATE
Median Sale Price
$358,377
Days on Market
60
Slower market
Months of Supply
2.2
Seller's market
Sale-to-List Ratio
101.4%
Homes selling above asking
Sold Above List
62.6%
Listings w/ Price Drops
18.1%
Building Permits (2024)
1,597
Single-Family Permits
1,198

Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →

[05] Crime & Safety

B+
SAFETY
GRADE
Homicide Rate
2.1
per 100K · nat avg 6.3
Firearm Fatalities
8.6
per 100K · nat avg 14.8
Injury Deaths
48.6
per 100K · nat avg 76.3
vs National Average
Well below national avg
based on homicide rate

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 →

[06] Air Quality

B
AIR QUALITY
GRADE
Median AQI (3yr)
36.7
Good
Good Air Days
73%
725 of 997 days
Unhealthy+ Days (3yr)
4
Sensitive groups affected
Primary Pollutant
PM2.5
Fine particulate matter
Yearly Trend
2021
41
2022
32
2023
37
Median AQI · lower is better

Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →

[07] Capital Investment

$1,665M
TOTAL
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.

[08] Score Breakdown

GDP Growth +3.2% 60 percentile
Population Growth +1.5% 82 percentile
Income Growth +8.5% 50 percentile
Vacancy Rate 0.8% 75 percentile
Home Price Change +1.8% 57 percentile
Rent Growth +3.2% 54 percentile
Price/Rent 15x 35 percentile

Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.

[09] Frequently Asked Questions

Is Sarpy County, NE a good place to move to?

Sarpy County scores 52/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 996 U.S. counties (#475). Median household income is $95,911 and job growth is running at +2.6%. The data points to a county with mixed signals — some positive indicators alongside areas that lag faster-growing peers.

Is Sarpy County affordable?

By national standards, Sarpy County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $263,000, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.36 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $1,203/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.

Is Sarpy County growing or shrinking?

Sarpy County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +1.5% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +2.6% clip. Home values shifted +1.8% in the past year.

Are people moving to Sarpy County?

There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 3.92% 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.

[10] Similar Counties by Size & Score

Douglas County, NE 58 Lancaster County, NE 66 Hall County, NE 66 Buffalo County, NE 87 Catawba County, NC 52 Blount County, TN 52 Erie County, PA 52 Newport News city, VA 53