The Town FilesBroken Bow, Nebraska
City in Custer County · population 3,506 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $133,200
- Household income
- $60,129
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 30 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 36.6
Broken Bow is a city of 3,506 people in Custer County, Nebraska. The median home is worth $133,200, below the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). It ranks better for cycling than 96% of Nebraska towns, hipper than 95% of Nebraska towns, more walkable than 89% of Nebraska towns.
How Broken Bow 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 Broken Bow is worth $133,200, below the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $60,129, which is more affordable than 54% of Nebraska towns. Median rent is $876 a month. 56.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Broken Bow | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $133,200 | $154,800 |
| Median rent | $876 | $818 |
| Median household income | $60,129 | $66,320 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 56.7% | 73.2% |
| Median year built | 1962 | 1963 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Broken Bow
| People | Broken Bow | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.6 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.3% | 20.8% |
| Under 18 | 28.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.7% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.8% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 6.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.8% | — |
| Work from home | 4.1% | 5.2% |
| Average commute | 8.8 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 73.9% | 87.8% |
Weather in Broken Bow
July highs average 86.1°F and January lows 11.5°F. About 23.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 29.5 inches of snow (typical Nebraska town: 28.6 in). Expect about 24 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 177 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Broken Bow since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Nebraska town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 1, 1990 about 0.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 16, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 107 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on June 14, 1980.
Severe weather in Custer County since 1996
Custer County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 27, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4662: Severe Storms And Straight-Line Winds |
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4521: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3483: Covid-19 |
| March 21, 2019 | Flood | DR-4420: Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| June 29, 2018 | Snowstorm | DR-4375: Severe Winter Storm And Straight-Line Winds |
Jobs and pay in Custer County
Custer County had 4,537 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,959 a year. Unemployment was 1.7% in 2023; in Broken Bow itself the ACS puts it at 5.9%.
Public schools in Broken Bow
5 public schools with 886 students, about 15.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| NORTH PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 363 | 13.4 |
| BROKEN BOW HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 238 | 14.9 |
| BROKEN BOW MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 165 | 16.5 |
| NEW DISCOVERIES PRESCHOOL | PK-PK | 70 | 23.3 |
| EARLY CHILDHOOD SERVICES | PK-PK | 50 | — |
Broken Bow questions
Is Broken Bow, Nebraska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Broken Bow scores better for retirees than 87% of Nebraska towns and quieter than 27%. 19.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.6).
How much does a house cost in Broken Bow?
The median owner-occupied home in Broken Bow is valued at $133,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,129, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $876 a month.
What is the weather like in Broken Bow?
July highs average 86.1°F and January lows 11.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 23.0 inches of precipitation a year and 29.5 inches of snow.
Does Broken Bow get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Broken Bow since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 1, 1990. 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)