Nebraska, affectionately referred to as the Cornhusker State, is a popular choice for those looking to move to the midwest for a few reasons: its competitive job market, its affordable housing options, and its access to excellent higher education opportunities. If harsh winters and miles of seemingly endless farmland aren’t deal-breakers for you, Nebraska may be an economical option for your family that improves your quality of life. And if you’re on the hunt for well-established Nebraska movers, we recommend any of the movers on this page—but our top moving choice is International Van Lines.
Compare Nebraska moving companies
Moving company | Move type | Move.org rating | Cost | Learn more |
| Full-service (long distance) | 
| $$$$ | Check Prices Check Prices | |
| Full-service (local) | 
| $$$ | Check Prices Check Prices | |
| Moving container | 
| $$$ | Check Prices Check Prices | |
| Truck rental | 
| $$ | Check Prices Check Prices | |
| Hourly labor | 
| $$ | Check Prices Check Prices |
International Van Lines—Best long-distance moving company
International Van Lines is our pick for the best long-distance moving company. It can move you anywhere in the country and is upfront about its prices (most moving companies aren’t). IVL also offers substantial discounts if you’re a senior or need to ship a car. Plus, the moving company provides 30 days of free storage to provide a buffer when moving into your new home. On the downside, it has below-average customer reviews and annoying website pop-up ads.
Pros
Transparent pricing
Local and long-distance moving
15% car shipping discount
15% senior discount
30 days of free storage 
Cons
Below-average customer reviews
Annoying pop-up ads First National Van Lines—Best local moving company
First National Van Lines is our pick for the best local moving company. While most moving brokers focus on helping you move between states, FNVL’s expertise enables you to move within the same state. It has a network of movers in nearly all US cities and receives above-average customer reviews. First National Van Lines can also give you a quote virtually or in person and provides attractive storage options. For example, it offers all customers a free month of storage and a remote video stream of their storage space. On the downside, FNVL’s website isn’t always up-to-date.
Pros
Services most U.S. cities
Excellent customer reviews
In-home and virtual quotes
30 days of free storage
Remote video storage Cons
Out-of-date website PODS—Best moving container company
PODS is one of your best moving options. Think of the company’s containers as storage units that you can hang onto until you've set a date with a driver to pick up and hook onto the back of a specialized truck. A PODS truck drops off a moving container at your home. Once you load it, PODS picks the container up and transports it to your new home, where you unload it. The container company has top-notch customer reviews, excellent storage options, and nationwide availability. And despite confusing invoices, PODS has some of the lowest rates for moving containers in the United States. In some cases, it's even more convenient and cheaper than rental trucks.
Pros
Low prices
Multiple container sizes
Lots of storage options
Positive customer reviews
46-state availability Cons
Confusing prices Penske—Best moving truck company
Penske Truck Rental is our pick for the best moving truck company. Renting a truck is the cheapest way to move, and Penske brings a lot to the table. It offers local and long-distance moving services everywhere in the country (except Alaska), provides reliable reservations, and has moving discounts. In addition, Penske has the highest customer satisfaction rating of any rental truck company. So if you’re able to pack, load, and drive, there’s no better option than Penske Truck Rental.
Pros
Lowest moving prices
Local and long-distance rentals
Excellent customer reviews
Moving discounts
Reliable reservations Cons
No service in Alaska HireAHelper—Best hourly moving labor company
HireAHelper is an excellent solution if you need help with only a few parts of the moving process. The company’s professional contractors can help you with everything from packing and loading to furniture assembly and junk removal. It’s also easy to find, with nearly 5,000 locations in all 50 states. Plus, HireAHelper movers get excellent customer reviews. Just be aware that you must hire your workers for at least two hours. It’s not cheap compared to other hourly moving labor companies, but customer reviews suggest the premium price is worth it.
Pros
Professional contractors
Packing and loading services
4,750+ locations
50-state availability
Positive customer reviews Cons
High prices
Two-hour minimum Move.org's top pick
International Van Lines is our pick for the best long-distance moving service. It has a vast network of cross-country movers, provides one month of free storage, and offers military and senior discounts. Want to move with Move.org's #1 pick?
What type of moving company is right for you?
Professional movers
They handle it all.
Professional movers load your stuff, ship it to your new home, and unload it all for you. It’s the easiest—but most expensive—option. Learn more.
Containers
You load, they ship.
You load up all your belongings, but the movers transport your container to your new home. It’s the middle road for effort and cost. Learn more.
Moving truck rentals
You do all the work.
Worried about costs? Rent a truck, load it yourself, drive it to your new home, and unload all your things. You do it all—and save a lot. Learn more.
What to know about living in Nebraska
Population
Over 1.92 million people are living in Nebraska right now. Ethnic diversity in Nebraska is average compared to other states in the US. While the majority of the population is White (79%), Nebraska has a considerable Hispanic and Latino population (almost 11%). Black or African American residents make up roughly 5%, while those of Asian descent make up 2%. Multiracial and American Indian/Alaskan Native residents round out the population at around 3%. Additionally, more than 7% of the population was born in another country, and close to 12% of households speak another language aside from English at home, the most common being listed as Spanish, Vietnamese, and Other Languages of Asia.1
Other noteworthy demographics:
- Roughly 25% of the population in Nebraska is under the age of 18.2
- 8% of residents under 65 live with a disability.
- Almost 92% of the population has a high school diploma or higher.
Employment
There are 950,000 people employed in Nebraska,1 with an unemployment rate of 2.6%.3 The most common jobs are truck drivers and sales workers, elementary and middle school teachers, and registered nurses. Additionally, the most common employment industries are elementary and secondary schools, construction, and general medical and surgical hospitals.1 The average salary in Nebraska is $52,110 annually or $25.05 per hour.4
Cost of living
The cost of living is 7% lower in Nebraska than the national average, but this varies by city. For example, Omaha is 1% higher than the state average, while Lincoln is 2% below the state average (and 9% lower than the national average).5 Additionally, the average single adult can expect to pay around $34,519 annually to afford basic living expenses (like groceries, healthcare, housing, and transportation), or $16.60 per hour.6
Politics
Nebraska voted Republican in the most recent presidential election. Deb Fischer and Ben Sasse are the two senators representing Nebraska, and Jim Pillen is the governor. The state has been strongly Republican since 1964, the last year it voted for a Democratic presidential candidate.7 However, as Nebraska has 2 electoral college votes, voting is considered competitive for both parties in this state. Currently, decision makers seek to address medical marijuana, criminal justice reform (including prison system overcrowding), and educational funding, especially for childcare and early childhood education.8
Which long-distance movers have the best quality?
American Van Lines is our pick for the highest-quality interstate moving company. It’s expensive, but the company has decades of experience moving high-value items like pianos and artwork.
Best Nebraska movers FAQ
Nebraska, also known as the Cornhusker state, is one of the most affordable states in the midwest, offering its residents a decent job market (with higher paying jobs), affordable housing, and accessible higher education. And although you’ll also have to contend with harsher winter weather (and humid summers), the low population density means you won’t be overcrowded no matter where you choose to live. It’s worth noting, too, that Nebraska sits in the path of the infamous Tornado Alley—-and its flat landscape makes it easier for those storms to cause major destruction.9
The top reasons many choose to make Nebraska their new home are because of its overall quality of life, growing job market, and low real estate prices when compared to the national average. In fact, it’s ranked 5th overall in the nation for housing affordability.9
Additionally, the lack of income taxes make it easier for residents to enjoy a work-life balance that may not be available in states with a higher cost of living. If you are looking to make a move to or from Nebraska, we recommend moving with International Van Lines, our top-rated mover. You can expect transparent pricing, high customer satisfaction, optional packing services, and senior discounts.
Your liveable wage in Nebraska depends on your living situation and household size. For example, a single adult would need to make roughly $16.60 per hour ($34,519 annually before taxes) to meet basic living needs, and two working adults with two children would each need to make at least $11.73 per hour ($97,688 annually) to manage their household’s living needs.6
A storage unit in Nebraska costs an average of $99 per month for a non-climate-controlled option, but this will vary depending on availability, location, unit size, and the self-storage company.10
Methodology
We conducted intensive research to identify the best moving companies for long-distance moves and local moves, in addition to container moves, truck rentals, and hourly moving labor. During our searches, we:
- Compare pricing transparency. We gather quotes, check for binding estimates, and read customer reviews about pricing to ensure each moving company’s prices are trustworthy.
- Review accreditation. We check every company’s records in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s database to confirm companies are properly authorized to transport household goods.
- Go mystery shopping. We review every company’s website, pose as customers in calls to companies, and read customer reviews to analyze every company’s moving services, transit protection, and customer service. We also interview actual customers to learn how their moves went from start to finish.
- Perform site visits. We invite moving companies to our headquarters in Salt Lake City, UT, to share data and expertise. We verify the information they provide by comparing it to data gathered through independent research and interviews with other movers.
- Set up regular reviews. We routinely repeat this process to update our recommendations to reflect current data and trends. We also revise each review annually and make updates throughout the year.
Sources
- DataUSA, “Nebraska.” Accessed January 31, 2023.
- The United States Census Bureau, “QuickFacts: Nebraska.” Accessed January 31, 2023.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Economy at a Glance.” Accessed January 31, 2023.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.” Accessed January 31, 2023.
- RentCafe, “Cost of Living in Nebraska.” Accessed January 31, 2023.
- Abby Orzech, Jerry Insurance, “How High is the Cost of Living in Nebraska?” Published September 8, 2022. Accessed January 31, 2023.
- BallotPedia, “Presidential voting trends in Nebraska.” Accessed January 31, 2023.
- Chris Dunker, Lincoln Journal Star, “Lincoln senators share goals, priorities heading into legislative session,” Published January 17, 2023. Accessed January 31, 2023.
- Devin Baroga, Great Guys Moving, “Expert Advice for Moving to Nebraska,” Published October 2, 2021. Accessed January 31, 2023.
- RentCafe, “30 Best Storage Units in Lincoln, NE, from $32.” Accessed January 31, 2023.
