The Town FilesCozad, Nebraska
City in Dawson County · population 3,988 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $121,600
- Household income
- $54,471
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 27 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 41.6
Cozad is a city of 3,988 people in Dawson County, Nebraska. The median home is worth $121,600, below the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). It ranks more walkable than 88% of Nebraska towns, more vibrant than 85% of Nebraska towns, hipper than 83% of Nebraska towns.
How Cozad 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 Cozad is worth $121,600, below the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $54,471, which is more affordable than 54% of Nebraska towns. Median rent is $851 a month. 64.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Cozad | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $121,600 | $154,800 |
| Median rent | $851 | $818 |
| Median household income | $54,471 | $66,320 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 64.8% | 73.2% |
| Median year built | 1970 | 1963 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.4% | — |
Who lives in Cozad
| People | Cozad | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.6 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.8% | 20.8% |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.8% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.9% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 5.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 9.1% | — |
| Work from home | 4.3% | 5.2% |
| Average commute | 16.7 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.6% | 87.8% |
Weather in Cozad
July highs average 87.6°F and January lows 16.1°F. About 24.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 27.4 inches of snow (typical Nebraska town: 28.6 in). Expect about 34 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 155 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cozad since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Nebraska town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on October 31, 2000 about 7.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 5, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 102 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on August 10, 1996.
Severe weather in Dawson County since 1996
Dawson County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 13, 2026 | Fire | FM-5623: Morrill-Cottonwood Fire |
| September 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4822: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Dawson County
Dawson County had 11,864 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,639 a year. Unemployment was 2.4% in 2023; in Cozad itself the ACS puts it at 1.3%.
Public schools in Cozad
4 public schools with 967 students, about 13.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| COZAD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 445 | 15.3 |
| COZAD HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 245 | 10.2 |
| COZAD MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 201 | 11.8 |
| COZAD EARLY EDUCATION CENTER | PK-PK | 76 | 19.0 |
Towns near Cozad
- Gothenburg, NE9.8 mi · 3,478 people · home $191,000
- Lexington, NE13.8 mi · 10,348 people · home $159,100
Cozad questions
Is Cozad, Nebraska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Cozad scores better for retirees than 57% of Nebraska towns and quieter than 23%. 25.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.6).
How much does a house cost in Cozad?
The median owner-occupied home in Cozad is valued at $121,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $54,471, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $851 a month.
What is the weather like in Cozad?
July highs average 87.6°F and January lows 16.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 24.1 inches of precipitation a year and 27.4 inches of snow.
Does Cozad get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cozad since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on October 31, 2000. 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)