The Town FilesNorfolk, Nebraska
City in Madison County · population 24,955 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $211,700
- Household income
- $58,884
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 26 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 29
- Median age
- 37.3
Norfolk is a city of 24,955 people in Madison County, Nebraska. The median home is worth $211,700, above the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). It ranks more walkable than 96% of Nebraska towns, more vibrant than 96% of Nebraska towns, better for cycling than 94% of Nebraska towns.
How Norfolk 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 Norfolk is worth $211,700, above the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $58,884, which is more affordable than 2% of Nebraska towns. Median rent is $875 a month. 60.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Norfolk | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $211,700 | $154,800 |
| Median rent | $875 | $818 |
| Median household income | $58,884 | $66,320 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 60.9% | 73.2% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1963 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.6% | — |
Who lives in Norfolk
| People | Norfolk | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.3 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.4% | 20.8% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.0% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.3% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 5.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.1% | — |
| Work from home | 5.3% | 5.2% |
| Average commute | 13.0 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.6% | 87.8% |
Weather in Norfolk
July highs average 84.8°F and January lows 10.2°F. About 27.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 26.3 inches of snow (typical Nebraska town: 28.6 in). Expect about 19 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 160 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Norfolk since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Nebraska town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on June 16, 2014 about 9.1 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 6 deaths and 24 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 29, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 96 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on April 9, 2011.
Severe weather in Madison County since 1996
Madison County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| 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 Madison County
Madison County had 22,011 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,267 a year. Unemployment was 2% in 2023; in Norfolk itself the ACS puts it at 3.2%.
Public schools in Norfolk
13 public schools with 4,541 students, about 14.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| NORFOLK SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,359 | 17.0 |
| NORFOLK JR HIGH SCHOOL | 7-8 | 644 | 13.1 |
| NORFOLK MIDDLE SCHOOL | 5-6 | 609 | 13.8 |
| BEL AIR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-4 | 324 | 15.4 |
| LITTLE PANTHERS PRESCHOOL | PK-PK | 305 | 21.8 |
| JEFFERSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-4 | 249 | 15.6 |
| WASHINGTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-4 | 233 | 14.6 |
| LINCOLN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-4 | 216 | 16.6 |
| GRANT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-4 | 210 | 15.0 |
| WOODLAND PARK ELEMENTARY SCH | PK-4 | 199 | 13.3 |
| WESTSIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-4 | 193 | 10.7 |
| ALTERNATIVES FOR SUCCESS SCH | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Norfolk
- Wayne, NE25.9 mi · 5,973 people · home $228,900
Norfolk questions
Is Norfolk, Nebraska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Norfolk scores better for retirees than 12% of Nebraska towns and quieter than 5%. 17.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.3).
How much does a house cost in Norfolk?
The median owner-occupied home in Norfolk is valued at $211,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $58,884, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $875 a month.
What is the weather like in Norfolk?
July highs average 84.8°F and January lows 10.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 27.9 inches of precipitation a year and 26.3 inches of snow.
Does Norfolk get tornadoes?
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Norfolk since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on June 16, 2014. 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)