Which counties in Nebraska are people leaving?

41 of the 81 ranked counties in Nebraska had more residents move away to other U.S. counties than move in during 2025. Boyd County had the largest net outflow for its size: 19.7 per 1,000 residents (−33 people). In people, Hall County had the largest net outflow (−1,075).

Net out-migration does not always mean fewer residents: 17 of these 41 counties still had more residents in 2025 than in 2020.

Data as of 2025 · updated November 5, 2026

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All 41 Nebraska counties with net out-migration

Counties with the most out-migration in Nebraska
Rank	County	Per 1,000 residents, 2025	Net movers 2025	Residents	Population change 2020–25
1	Boyd County	−19.7	−33	1,674	−7.5%
2	Colfax County	−19.2	−210	10,934	+3.6%
3	Hall County	−16.9	−1,075	63,633	+1.4%
4	Dawson County	−16.6	−406	24,452	+1.5%
5	Box Butte County	−15.6	−164	10,494	−3.0%
6	Dawes County	−14.8	−116	7,858	−3.7%
7	Sioux County	−14.3	−17	1,188	+3.7%
8	Platte County	−12.2	−436	35,649	+3.9%
9	Cherry County	−12.2	−68	5,561	+1.9%
10	Boone County	−11.6	−62	5,355	−0.1%
11	Greeley County	−11.1	−24	2,154	−1.3%
12	Cuming County	−10.8	−95	8,823	−2.1%
13	Gosper County	−10.5	−19	1,803	−4.9%
14	Sheridan County	−10.4	−50	4,809	−5.7%
15	Jefferson County	−9.6	−68	7,070	−2.6%
16	Morrill County	−9.1	−40	4,404	−3.3%
17	Stanton County	−8.9	−51	5,744	−1.4%
18	Dakota County	−8.4	−183	21,687	+0.7%
19	Red Willow County	−7.3	−75	10,307	−3.5%
20	Saline County	−6.6	−99	14,996	+1.9%
21	Antelope County	−5.8	−37	6,352	+1.0%
22	Custer County	−5.0	−53	10,500	+0.0%
23	Franklin County	−5.0	−14	2,795	−3.1%
24	Adams County	−4.9	−153	31,071	−0.3%
25	Dixon County	−4.8	−27	5,602	+0.4%
26	Phelps County	−4.6	−41	8,994	+0.2%
27	Sherman County	−4.1	−12	2,924	−1.2%
28	Hitchcock County	−4.1	−10	2,467	−5.9%
29	Keith County	−3.8	−31	8,100	−2.7%
30	Pierce County	−3.4	−25	7,378	+0.5%
31	Brown County	−3.2	−9	2,826	−2.6%
32	Burt County	−3.1	−21	6,678	−0.6%
33	Knox County	−2.8	−23	8,335	−0.5%
34	Thayer County	−2.5	−12	4,842	−3.6%
35	Rock County	−2.4	−3	1,259	−0.7%
36	Buffalo County	−2.0	−103	51,172	+1.9%
37	Scotts Bluff County	−1.5	−52	35,586	−1.3%
38	Holt County	−1.0	−10	10,067	−0.3%
39	Washington County	−0.9	−20	21,302	+1.8%
40	Douglas County	−0.6	−380	606,460	+3.6%
41	Polk County	−0.6	−3	5,270	+1.1%

How this is ranked

Counties where more residents moved away to other U.S. counties than moved in (negative net domestic migration in the Census Bureau's population estimates for 2025), per 1,000 residents, largest net outflow first. Moves from and to other countries, births and deaths are not counted. Counties with fewer than 1,000 residents, or without a figure for the same period as the others, are left out, as on every ranking.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025). Figures come from public federal statistics and are informational only, not investment advice. Check the source before relying on a number. Methodology: how ranks and figures are built. More on every layer: data sources and licences.

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Questions

Which county in Nebraska are the most people leaving?

For its size, Boyd County: net domestic migration of −19.7 per 1,000 residents in 2025 (−33 people; Census Bureau population estimates). Next: Colfax County (−19.2) and Hall County (−16.9).

How many counties in Nebraska have more people moving out than in?

41 of the 81 ranked counties in Nebraska had more residents move away to other U.S. counties than move in during 2025.

Does net out-migration mean a county is losing population?

Not always. Net domestic migration counts moves between U.S. counties only; births, deaths and international migration also change the total. 17 of these 41 counties still had more residents in 2025 than in 2020.

More county rankings for Nebraska

Counties with the most out-migration in other states

Across the U.S.