The Town FilesAurora, Nebraska
City in Hamilton County · population 4,678 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $233,900
- Household income
- $77,679
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 27 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 43
- Median age
- 39.5
Aurora is a city of 4,678 people in Hamilton County, Nebraska. The median home is worth $233,900, above the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). It ranks more vibrant than 82% of Nebraska towns, more walkable than 80% of Nebraska towns.
How Aurora ranks
Percentile among Nebraska towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Nebraska towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Aurora is worth $233,900, above the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $77,679, which is more affordable than 12% of Nebraska towns. Median rent is $764 a month. 81.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Aurora | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $233,900 | $154,800 |
| Median rent | $764 | $818 |
| Median household income | $77,679 | $66,320 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 81.4% | 73.2% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1963 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Aurora
| People | Aurora | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.5 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.9% | 20.8% |
| Under 18 | 26.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.8% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.8% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 9.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.0% | — |
| Work from home | 8.9% | 5.2% |
| Average commute | 20.3 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.7% | 87.8% |
Weather in Aurora
July highs average 86.5°F and January lows 14.6°F. About 30.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 27.3 inches of snow (typical Nebraska town: 28.6 in). Expect about 28 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 143 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
43 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Aurora since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Nebraska town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on May 5, 1964 about 6.3 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 31 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 2, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 110 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on May 22, 1966.
Severe weather in Hamilton County since 1996
Hamilton County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 21, 2025 | Winter Storm | DR-4868: Severe Winter Storm And Straight-Line Winds |
| August 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4808: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| February 23, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4641: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| September 6, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4616: Severe Storms And Straight-Line Winds |
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4521: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Hamilton County
Hamilton County had 3,982 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,251 a year. Unemployment was 1.9% in 2023; in Aurora itself the ACS puts it at 2.1%.
Public schools in Aurora
4 public schools with 1,227 students, about 12.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| AURORA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 516 | 13.6 |
| AURORA HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 372 | 10.6 |
| AURORA MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 265 | 11.5 |
| AURORA PRESCHOOL | PK-PK | 74 | 37.0 |
Towns near Aurora
- Central City, NE17.2 mi · 3,039 people · home $165,300
- Grand Island, NE18.8 mi · 53,131 people · home $218,600
- York, NE21.6 mi · 8,066 people · home $180,900
- Hastings, NE27.3 mi · 25,152 people · home $184,700
Aurora questions
Is Aurora, Nebraska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Aurora scores better for retirees than 41% of Nebraska towns and quieter than 25%. 20.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.5).
How much does a house cost in Aurora?
The median owner-occupied home in Aurora is valued at $233,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $77,679, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $764 a month.
What is the weather like in Aurora?
July highs average 86.5°F and January lows 14.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 30.4 inches of precipitation a year and 27.3 inches of snow.
Does Aurora get tornadoes?
43 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Aurora since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on May 5, 1964. The typical Nebraska town has had 23.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)