The Town FilesMcCook, Nebraska
City in Red Willow County · population 7,446 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $154,300
- Household income
- $56,917
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 20 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 41.2
McCook is a city of 7,446 people in Red Willow County, Nebraska. The median home is worth $154,300, close to the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). It ranks hipper than 100% of Nebraska towns, more vibrant than 89% of Nebraska towns, more walkable than 86% of Nebraska towns.
How McCook 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 McCook is worth $154,300, close to the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $56,917, which is more affordable than 28% of Nebraska towns. Median rent is $823 a month. 66.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | McCook | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $154,300 | $154,800 |
| Median rent | $823 | $818 |
| Median household income | $56,917 | $66,320 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 66.3% | 73.2% |
| Median year built | 1957 | 1963 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in McCook
| People | McCook | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.2 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.8% | 20.8% |
| Under 18 | 21.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.5% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.3% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 6.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.3% | — |
| Work from home | 5.8% | 5.2% |
| Average commute | 9.1 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.8% | 87.8% |
Weather in McCook
July highs average 91.2°F and January lows 16.1°F. About 20.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 20.4 inches of snow (typical Nebraska town: 28.6 in). Expect about 61 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 154 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of McCook since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Nebraska town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 15, 1990 about 3.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 23, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 121 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on June 5, 2022.
Severe weather in Red Willow County since 1996
Red Willow County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4808: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 23, 2022 | Fire | FM-5436: Road 702 Fire |
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4521: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3483: Covid-19 |
| June 26, 2017 | Severe Storm | DR-4321: Severe Winter Storm And Straight-Line Winds |
Jobs and pay in Red Willow County
Red Willow County had 4,964 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,527 a year. Unemployment was 1.9% in 2023; in McCook itself the ACS puts it at 1.4%.
Public schools in McCook
6 public schools with 1,386 students, about 15.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| MC COOK SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 450 | 15.0 |
| MC COOK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-3 | 438 | 15.1 |
| MC COOK JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL | 6-8 | 310 | 15.5 |
| CENTRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | 4-5 | 188 | 14.5 |
| MC COOK ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION | 7-12 | — | — |
| STEP SCHOOL | 7-12 | — | — |
McCook questions
Is McCook, Nebraska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, McCook scores better for retirees than 47% of Nebraska towns and quieter than 24%. 20.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.2).
How much does a house cost in McCook?
The median owner-occupied home in McCook is valued at $154,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $56,917, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $823 a month.
What is the weather like in McCook?
July highs average 91.2°F and January lows 16.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 20.1 inches of precipitation a year and 20.4 inches of snow.
Does McCook get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of McCook since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on June 15, 1990. 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)