The Town FilesNorth Platte, Nebraska
City in Lincoln County · population 23,390 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $169,100
- Household income
- $58,097
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 30 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 38
- Median age
- 40.2
North Platte is a city of 23,390 people in Lincoln County, Nebraska. The median home is worth $169,100, above the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). It ranks better for cycling than 96% of Nebraska towns, more walkable than 95% of Nebraska towns, more vibrant than 93% of Nebraska towns.
How North Platte 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 North Platte is worth $169,100, above the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $58,097, which is more affordable than 16% of Nebraska towns. Median rent is $921 a month. 58.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | North Platte | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $169,100 | $154,800 |
| Median rent | $921 | $818 |
| Median household income | $58,097 | $66,320 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 58.5% | 73.2% |
| Median year built | 1966 | 1963 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.8% | — |
Who lives in North Platte
| People | North Platte | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.2 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.0% | 20.8% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.8% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.4% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 7.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.5% | — |
| Work from home | 2.4% | 5.2% |
| Average commute | 13.3 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.3% | 87.8% |
Weather in North Platte
July highs average 89.7°F and January lows 11.9°F. About 21.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 29.6 inches of snow (typical Nebraska town: 28.6 in). Expect about 39 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 175 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
38 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of North Platte since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Nebraska town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on October 29, 1956 about 0.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 2, 2015.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 273 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on June 13, 1996.
Severe weather in Lincoln County since 1996
Lincoln County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Fire | DR-4920: Wildfires |
| March 13, 2026 | Fire | FM-5623: Morrill-Cottonwood Fire |
| September 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4822: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| August 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4808: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4521: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Lincoln County
Lincoln County had 14,738 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,150 a year. Unemployment was 2.2% in 2023; in North Platte itself the ACS puts it at 3.9%.
Public schools in North Platte
12 public schools with 3,756 students, about 15.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| NORTH PLATTE HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,189 | 18.0 |
| ADAMS MIDDLE SCHOOL | 7-8 | 533 | 12.7 |
| JEFFERSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 322 | 16.1 |
| LINCOLN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 269 | 15.8 |
| MCDONALD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 245 | 20.4 |
| CODY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 244 | 15.3 |
| MADISON MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-6 | 242 | 12.1 |
| WASHINGTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 237 | 15.8 |
| EISENHOWER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 229 | 15.3 |
| LAKE MALONEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 125 | 17.9 |
| BUFFALO EARLY LEARNING CENTER | PK-PK | 100 | 16.7 |
| OSGOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-PK | 21 | 21.0 |
North Platte questions
Is North Platte, Nebraska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, North Platte scores better for retirees than 4% of Nebraska towns and quieter than 8%. 20.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.2).
How much does a house cost in North Platte?
The median owner-occupied home in North Platte is valued at $169,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $58,097, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $921 a month.
What is the weather like in North Platte?
July highs average 89.7°F and January lows 11.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 21.1 inches of precipitation a year and 29.6 inches of snow.
Does North Platte get tornadoes?
38 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of North Platte since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on October 29, 1956. 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)