The Town FilesCentral City, Nebraska
City in Merrick County · population 3,039 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $165,300
- Household income
- $73,229
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 29 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 33
- Median age
- 39.9
Central City is a city of 3,039 people in Merrick County, Nebraska. The median home is worth $165,300, above the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). It ranks hipper than 98% of Nebraska towns, more of a college town than 95% of Nebraska towns, more walkable than 90% of Nebraska towns.
How Central City 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 Central City is worth $165,300, above the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $73,229, which is more affordable than 46% of Nebraska towns. Median rent is $677 a month. 73.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Central City | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $165,300 | $154,800 |
| Median rent | $677 | $818 |
| Median household income | $73,229 | $66,320 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 73.9% | 73.2% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1963 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Central City
| People | Central City | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.9 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.9% | 20.8% |
| Under 18 | 22.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.0% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.1% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 7.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.7% | — |
| Work from home | 5.4% | 5.2% |
| Average commute | 18.4 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.5% | 87.8% |
Weather in Central City
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 13.6°F. About 28.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 28.6 inches of snow (typical Nebraska town: 28.6 in). Expect about 33 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 134 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
33 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Central City since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Nebraska town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on October 9, 2001 about 8.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 2, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 95 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on July 18, 1961.
Severe weather in Merrick County since 1996
Merrick County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| February 25, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1878: Severe Winter Storms And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Merrick County
Merrick County had 2,451 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,455 a year. Unemployment was 2% in 2023; in Central City itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Central City
3 public schools with 781 students, about 12.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| CENTRAL CITY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-4 | 317 | 13.8 |
| CENTRAL CITY HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 237 | 10.8 |
| CENTRAL CITY MIDDLE SCHOOL | 5-8 | 227 | 12.6 |
Towns near Central City
- Aurora, NE17.2 mi · 4,678 people · home $233,900
- Grand Island, NE22.9 mi · 53,131 people · home $218,600
- York, NE27.1 mi · 8,066 people · home $180,900
Central City questions
Is Central City, Nebraska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Central City scores better for retirees than 64% of Nebraska towns and quieter than 15%. 20.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.9).
How much does a house cost in Central City?
The median owner-occupied home in Central City is valued at $165,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $73,229, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $677 a month.
What is the weather like in Central City?
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 13.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 28.5 inches of precipitation a year and 28.6 inches of snow.
Does Central City get tornadoes?
33 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Central City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on October 9, 2001. 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)