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Overall Rating: 84/100 · 125,000 veterans (8.8% of population)
Reviewed 2026. Programs and exemptions verified against Nebraska veterans-affairs and tax-authority sources.
Benefit details verified January 2025. Tax exemptions, caps, and eligibility change and can vary by county — always confirm current figures with your county assessor and your Nebraska Department of Veterans Affairs before you rely on them.
100% exempt from state income tax
1.69% average effective rate
Full exemption
100% service-connected permanent or 100% IU: full homestead exemption, no income/value limit. Nothing below 100%.
Source ↗No veteran-specific exemptions (5.5% state)
$120,000
VA Medical Center
4101 Woolworth Avenue, Omaha, NE 68105
(402) 346-8800
24/7 emergency, surgery, mental health, specialty care, PTSD treatment
Tuition credit
Veterans attending Nebraska colleges qualify for tuition assistance
4-year value: $8,000
Median Home
$280,000
1BR Rent
$950/mo
COL Index
91
Unemployment
2.9%
Major employers: Offutt Air Force Base, Union Pacific, Berkshire Hathaway, TD Ameritrade, UNMC
Pros: VA medical center, Offutt AFB, tax-free military retirement, full property tax exemption for 100%
Cons: High property taxes for non-disabled, cold winters
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Buying a home
$0 down, no PMI. Funding fee waived for service-connected veterans.
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Nebraska law grants a 5% preference added to a passing exam/score for eligible veterans applying for state jobs, plus an additional 5% for disabled veterans. Eligible spouses may also qualify.
Official source ↗Nebraska-resident veterans age 64 and older can obtain an Annual Small Game Hunt/Fish/Fur Harvest Permit (including all state stamps) for $5, renewed annually. A DD214 or a Veteran Indicator on the Nebraska driver's license is required.
Official source ↗Nebraska residents rated 50% or more service-connected disabled (or 100% non-service-connected with a VA pension) qualify for hunt/fish/fur permits with no expiration and a free Disabled Veterans' Lifetime Annual Park Entry Permit.
Official source ↗Veterans with an honorable or general discharge and a service-connected disability rating of at least 10% may obtain Disabled Veteran plates in lieu of regular plates. A VA benefit summary showing the rating is required.
Official source ↗Nebraska offers military and military honor license plates, and qualifying veterans can add a Veteran designation to their driver's license through the Nebraska Veteran's Registry.
Official source ↗Four state veterans' homes in Bellevue, Scottsbluff, Kearney, and Norfolk provide assisted living, skilled nursing, and memory care. Eligibility: honorable/general discharge active-duty service (or qualifying NE National Guard) plus two years of Nebraska residency during one's lifetime.
Official source ↗Waives 100% of tuition and tuition-related fees at University of Nebraska campuses, state colleges, and community colleges for the spouse/surviving spouse and children of a veteran who is rated 100% permanently and totally disabled from service, died of a service-connected disability, or is classified as MIA/POW.
Official source ↗Sourced from official state agencies; programs and eligibility change — confirm with your Nebraska Department of Veterans Affairs before applying.