The Town FilesGretna, Nebraska
City in Sarpy County · population 5,083 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $341,600
- Household income
- $123,992
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 36 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 29
- Median age
- 36.3
Gretna is a city of 5,083 people in Sarpy County, Nebraska. The median home is worth $341,600, above the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). It ranks more upscale than 100% of Nebraska towns, better for young professionals than 93% of Nebraska towns, better for families than 87% of Nebraska towns.
How Gretna 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 Gretna is worth $341,600, above the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $123,992, which is more affordable than 22% of Nebraska towns. Median rent is $1,540 a month. 75.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Gretna | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $341,600 | $154,800 |
| Median rent | $1,540 | $818 |
| Median household income | $123,992 | $66,320 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 75.3% | 73.2% |
| Median year built | 2002 | 1963 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Gretna
| People | Gretna | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.3 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 10.6% | 20.8% |
| Under 18 | 30.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 50.4% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.2% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 8.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.7% | — |
| Work from home | 17.3% | 5.2% |
| Average commute | 21.1 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.6% | 87.8% |
Weather in Gretna
July highs average 85.9°F and January lows 14.0°F. About 33.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 36.4 inches of snow (typical Nebraska town: 28.6 in). Expect about 27 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 136 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gretna since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Nebraska town. 11 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on April 26, 2024 about 8.5 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 5 deaths and 183 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 193 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on May 4, 2003.
Severe weather in Sarpy County since 1996
Sarpy County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 21, 2025 | Winter Storm | DR-4868: Severe Winter Storm And Straight-Line Winds |
| October 21, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4838: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| August 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4808: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| February 23, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4641: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| September 6, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4616: Severe Storms And Straight-Line Winds |
Jobs and pay in Sarpy County
Sarpy County had 80,883 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,661 a year. Unemployment was 2.2% in 2023; in Gretna itself the ACS puts it at 0.6%.
Public schools in Gretna
6 public schools with 3,704 students, about 15.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| GRETNA HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,124 | 16.3 |
| GRETNA MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 769 | 15.1 |
| REEDER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 533 | 17.8 |
| HARVEST HILLS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 455 | 15.2 |
| GRETNA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 430 | 14.3 |
| SQUIRE JOHN THOMAS ELEMENTARY | PK-5 | 393 | 13.6 |
Towns near Gretna
- Chalco, NE4.9 mi · 11,064 people · home $238,600
- Papillion, NE6.2 mi · 24,159 people · home $311,000
- La Vista, NE7.7 mi · 16,746 people · home $260,900
- Ralston, NE9.7 mi · 6,494 people · home $230,800
- Ashland, NE11.0 mi · 3,086 people · home $249,700
- Omaha, NE11.9 mi · 486,051 people · home $245,500
- Bellevue, NE13.5 mi · 64,176 people · home $247,000
- Offutt AFB, NE14.4 mi · 5,363 people · home —
Gretna questions
Is Gretna, Nebraska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Gretna scores better for retirees than 15% of Nebraska towns and quieter than 13%. 10.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.3).
How much does a house cost in Gretna?
The median owner-occupied home in Gretna is valued at $341,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $123,992, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $1,540 a month.
What is the weather like in Gretna?
July highs average 85.9°F and January lows 14.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.2 inches of precipitation a year and 36.4 inches of snow.
Does Gretna get tornadoes?
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gretna since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on April 26, 2024. 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)