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201309_BPL_PAPILLION
Papillion, NE
Bill Sitzmann

Top 50 rank: 8

Population: 19,837

Papillion is a regular on our list because of its top-notch schools, safe streets, and 15-minute, traffic-jam-free commute to Omaha, home of major employers in industries like financial services and health care.

There are also plenty of jobs around town. Black Hills Energy and Nebraska's largest credit union recently moved their headquarters to Papillion. The town scores additional points for having the most affordable homes in the top 10, a wealth of green spaces, including 13 parks and a 17-mile trail system, and a new AAA baseball stadium. (Go, Storm Chasers!)

Shoppers and foodies, take note: Downtown has few stores, and the fine-dining options are practically nil. --Vanessa Richardson

Papillion, NE

Town stats

Papillion, NE

Town stats

Median family income (per year) $87,858
Job growth % (2010-2012) 7.94%
Median home price (2012) $141,000
Reading test scores (% above/below average) -0.2%
Math test scores (% above/below average) -5.6%
Personal crime incidents (per 1,000) 1
Property crime incidents (per 1,000) 17

Financials

Median family income (per year) $87,858
Family purchasing power (annual, cost-of-living adjusted) $98,045
Sales tax 7.00%
State income tax rate (highest bracket) 6.84%I
State income tax rate (lowest bracket) 2.46%I
Auto insurance premiums (Average price quotes, for the state) $1,409
Job growth % (2010-2012) 7.94%

Financials

Housing

Median home price (2012) $141,000
Average property taxes(2010) $3,297

Housing

Education

Colleges, universities and professional schools (within 30 miles) 14
Reading test scores (% above/below state average) -0.2%
Test scores math (% above/below average) -5.6%
% students attending public/private schools (located within town limits) 91.7/8.3

Education

Quality of life

Air quality index* (% of days AQI ranked as good) 86.8%
Personal crime incidents (per 1,000) 1
Property crime incidents (per 1,000) 17
Median commute time (in minutes) 19.8
% population with commute 45 mins. or longer 4.9%
% population walk or bike to work 1.9%

Quality of life

Leisure and culture

Movie theaters (within 15 miles) 16
Restaurants (within 15 miles) 1,586
Bars (within 15 miles) 377
Public golf courses (within 30 miles) 68
Libraries (within 15 miles) 31
Museums (accredited by AAM; within 30 miles) 1
Ski resorts (within 100 miles) N.A.
Arts funding (Dollars per person of state funds spent on arts) 0.9

Leisure and culture

Weather

Annual rainfall (inches) 30.22
% clear days in the area 59%
High temp in July ° F 87.4°
Low temp in Jan ° F 11.6°

Weather

Meet the neighbors

Median age 35.9
Completed at least some college (% of residents) 70.7%
Married % 58.1%
Divorced % 8.2%
Racial diversity index (100 is national average; higher numbers indicate greater diversity) 41.1

Meet the neighbors