The Town FilesHastings, Nebraska
City in Adams County · population 25,152 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $184,700
- Household income
- $64,048
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 29 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 48
- Median age
- 37.3
Hastings is a city of 25,152 people in Adams County, Nebraska. The median home is worth $184,700, above the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). It ranks more walkable than 93% of Nebraska towns, more vibrant than 92% of Nebraska towns, hipper than 87% of Nebraska towns.
How Hastings 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 Hastings is worth $184,700, above the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $64,048, which is more affordable than 16% of Nebraska towns. Median rent is $858 a month. 65.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hastings | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $184,700 | $154,800 |
| Median rent | $858 | $818 |
| Median household income | $64,048 | $66,320 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 65.1% | 73.2% |
| Median year built | 1964 | 1963 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.1% | — |
Who lives in Hastings
| People | Hastings | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.3 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.6% | 20.8% |
| Under 18 | 23.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.2% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.8% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 6.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.9% | — |
| Work from home | 3.9% | 5.2% |
| Average commute | 13.8 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.6% | 87.8% |
Weather in Hastings
July highs average 88.0°F and January lows 16.4°F. About 26.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 28.6 inches of snow (typical Nebraska town: 28.6 in). Expect about 36 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 139 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
48 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hastings since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Nebraska town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on May 5, 1964 about 3.3 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 21 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 6, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 193 times; the largest was 4.25 inches on June 14, 2014.
Severe weather in Adams County since 1996
Adams County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| March 21, 2019 | Flood | DR-4420: Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| June 25, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4225: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Adams County
Adams County had 15,862 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,967 a year. Unemployment was 2.1% in 2023; in Hastings itself the ACS puts it at 2.9%.
Public schools in Hastings
14 public schools with 4,670 students, about 13.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| HASTINGS SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,025 | 14.4 |
| HASTINGS MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 773 | 13.6 |
| ADAMS CENTRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 498 | 14.6 |
| ADAMS CENTRAL JR-SR HIGH SCH | 7-12 | 432 | 11.7 |
| MORTON EARLY LEARNING CENTER | PK-PK | 413 | 34.4 |
| RAYMOND A WATSON ELEM SCHOOL | PK-5 | 337 | 12.0 |
| HAWTHORNE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 324 | 12.0 |
| LINCOLN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 304 | 11.3 |
| LONGFELLOW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 294 | 11.3 |
| ALCOTT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 270 | 12.3 |
| ESU #9 PRESCHOOL HOME BASE PRG | PK-PK | — | — |
| 18+ PROGRAM | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Hastings
- Grand Island, NE22.5 mi · 53,131 people · home $218,600
- Aurora, NE27.3 mi · 4,678 people · home $233,900
Hastings questions
Is Hastings, Nebraska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hastings scores better for retirees than 6% of Nebraska towns and quieter than 10%. 18.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.3).
How much does a house cost in Hastings?
The median owner-occupied home in Hastings is valued at $184,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $64,048, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $858 a month.
What is the weather like in Hastings?
July highs average 88.0°F and January lows 16.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 26.4 inches of precipitation a year and 28.6 inches of snow.
Does Hastings get tornadoes?
48 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hastings since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on May 5, 1964. 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)