The Town FilesCrete, Nebraska
City in Saline County · population 7,099 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $223,500
- Household income
- $77,209
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 25 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 33.2
Crete is a city of 7,099 people in Saline County, Nebraska. The median home is worth $223,500, above the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). It ranks better for young professionals than 91% of Nebraska towns, better transit than 87% of Nebraska towns, more walkable than 81% of Nebraska towns.
How Crete 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 Crete is worth $223,500, above the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $77,209, which is more affordable than 16% of Nebraska towns. Median rent is $936 a month. 69.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Crete | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $223,500 | $154,800 |
| Median rent | $936 | $818 |
| Median household income | $77,209 | $66,320 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 69.2% | 73.2% |
| Median year built | 1968 | 1963 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Crete
| People | Crete | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.2 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.7% | 20.8% |
| Under 18 | 26.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.4% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.6% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 4.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 26.7% | — |
| Work from home | 4.3% | 5.2% |
| Average commute | 18.1 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.8% | 87.8% |
Weather in Crete
July highs average 86.5°F and January lows 13.6°F. About 31.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 25.3 inches of snow (typical Nebraska town: 28.6 in). Expect about 36 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 133 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Crete since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Nebraska town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 15, 1975 about 9.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 29, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 68 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on September 7, 2001.
Severe weather in Saline County since 1996
Saline County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 22, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4896: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| May 21, 2025 | Winter Storm | DR-4868: Severe Winter Storm And Straight-Line Winds |
| February 23, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4641: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4521: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3483: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Saline County
Saline County had 6,653 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,910 a year. Unemployment was 2.4% in 2023; in Crete itself the ACS puts it at 4.4%.
Public schools in Crete
6 public schools with 2,268 students, about 16.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| CRETE HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 703 | 16.0 |
| CRETE MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 495 | 18.3 |
| CRETE INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL | 3-5 | 447 | 14.0 |
| CRETE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-2 | 444 | 14.3 |
| CRETE PRESCHOOL | PK-PK | 179 | 22.4 |
| CRETE SUCCESS ACADEMY | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Crete
- Hickman, NE17.0 mi · 2,607 people · home $311,700
- Lincoln, NE19.4 mi · 291,082 people · home $264,000
- Seward, NE21.0 mi · 7,643 people · home $244,600
- Beatrice, NE26.6 mi · 12,261 people · home $159,300
- Waverly, NE29.6 mi · 4,279 people · home $316,600
Crete questions
Is Crete, Nebraska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Crete scores better for retirees than 3% of Nebraska towns and quieter than 8%. 12.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.2).
How much does a house cost in Crete?
The median owner-occupied home in Crete is valued at $223,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $77,209, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $936 a month.
What is the weather like in Crete?
July highs average 86.5°F and January lows 13.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 31.0 inches of precipitation a year and 25.3 inches of snow.
Does Crete get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Crete since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 15, 1975. 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)