The Town FilesGrand Island, Nebraska
City in Hall County · population 53,131 (2020 Census)
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- Median home
- $218,600
- Household income
- $63,795
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 28 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 65
- Median age
- 34.7
Grand Island is a city of 53,131 people in Hall County, Nebraska. The median home is worth $218,600, above the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). It ranks more vibrant than 97% of Nebraska towns, more walkable than 94% of Nebraska towns, better transit than 86% of Nebraska towns.
How Grand Island 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 Grand Island is worth $218,600, above the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $63,795, which is more affordable than 6% of Nebraska towns. Median rent is $947 a month. 57.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Grand Island | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $218,600 | $154,800 |
| Median rent | $947 | $818 |
| Median household income | $63,795 | $66,320 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 57.8% | 73.2% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1963 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.3% | — |
Who lives in Grand Island
| People | Grand Island | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.7 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.8% | 20.8% |
| Under 18 | 28.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.9% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.2% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 5.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 19.4% | — |
| Work from home | 4.2% | 5.2% |
| Average commute | 16.9 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.5% | 87.8% |
Weather in Grand Island
July highs average 88.1°F and January lows 15.6°F. About 26.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 27.7 inches of snow (typical Nebraska town: 28.6 in). Expect about 36 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 145 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
65 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Grand Island since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Nebraska town. 19 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 3, 1980 about 0.5 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 5 deaths and 206 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 3, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 160 times; the largest was 5.00 inches on April 7, 1978.
Severe weather in Hall County since 1996
Hall County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 6, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4616: 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 Hall County
Hall County had 35,986 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,305 a year. Unemployment was 2.3% in 2023; in Grand Island itself the ACS puts it at 4.6%.
Public schools in Grand Island
27 public schools with 11,325 students, about 15.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| GRAND ISLAND SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 2,670 | 16.0 |
| WALNUT MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 789 | 12.5 |
| BARR MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 663 | 13.0 |
| NORTHWEST HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 653 | 12.8 |
| WESTRIDGE MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 624 | 12.5 |
| ENGLEMAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 481 | 17.2 |
| HOWARD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 463 | 15.4 |
| STARR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 451 | 16.1 |
| DODGE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 446 | 15.9 |
| SHOEMAKER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 444 | 16.4 |
| NEWELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 378 | 15.1 |
| CEDAR HOLLOW SCHOOL | PK-8 | 377 | 15.1 |
Towns near Grand Island
- Aurora, NE18.8 mi · 4,678 people · home $233,900
- Hastings, NE22.5 mi · 25,152 people · home $184,700
- Central City, NE22.9 mi · 3,039 people · home $165,300
Grand Island questions
Is Grand Island, Nebraska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Grand Island scores better for retirees than 5% of Nebraska towns and quieter than 7%. 14.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.7).
How much does a house cost in Grand Island?
The median owner-occupied home in Grand Island is valued at $218,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $63,795, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $947 a month.
What is the weather like in Grand Island?
July highs average 88.1°F and January lows 15.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 26.6 inches of precipitation a year and 27.7 inches of snow.
Does Grand Island get tornadoes?
65 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Grand Island since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on June 3, 1980. 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)