Nebraska is fine outside Omaha-Lincoln. SD is fine outside Sioux Falls and has no state income tax. Your best bet would be to take a trip, get off of I-80 as soon as possible, and just explore. You’ll learn far more than you will from anonymous strangers on the internet, no matter how well meaning
I’m almost to the point of doing just that, hoping in the car and just driving to put eyes on places away from here. Nebraska, as well as Kansas, have caught my eye as possible locations to explore.