The Town FilesOgallala, Nebraska
City in Keith County · population 4,878 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $155,800
- Household income
- $58,556
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 25 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 31
- Median age
- 47.1
Ogallala is a city of 4,878 people in Keith County, Nebraska. The median home is worth $155,800, close to the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). It ranks better for a vacation home than 92% of Nebraska towns, more walkable than 91% of Nebraska towns, more vibrant than 91% of Nebraska towns.
How Ogallala 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 Ogallala is worth $155,800, close to the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $58,556, which is more affordable than 28% of Nebraska towns. Median rent is $667 a month. 68.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ogallala | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $155,800 | $154,800 |
| Median rent | $667 | $818 |
| Median household income | $58,556 | $66,320 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 68.4% | 73.2% |
| Median year built | 1969 | 1963 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Ogallala
| People | Ogallala | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.1 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.7% | 20.8% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.3% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.4% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 7.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.2% | — |
| Work from home | 8.1% | 5.2% |
| Average commute | 13.0 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.4% | 87.8% |
Weather in Ogallala
July highs average 89.6°F and January lows 15.4°F. About 19.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 24.6 inches of snow (typical Nebraska town: 28.6 in). Expect about 46 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 166 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ogallala since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Nebraska town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on May 23, 2024 about 9.5 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 154 times; the largest was 4.25 inches on June 26, 2009.
Severe weather in Keith County since 1996
Keith County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 13, 2026 | Fire | FM-5623: Morrill-Cottonwood Fire |
| August 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4808: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4521: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3483: Covid-19 |
| June 29, 2018 | Snowstorm | DR-4375: Severe Winter Storm And Straight-Line Winds |
Jobs and pay in Keith County
Keith County had 3,344 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,634 a year. Unemployment was 1.8% in 2023; in Ogallala itself the ACS puts it at 3%.
Public schools in Ogallala
2 public schools with 821 students, about 11.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| PRAIRIE VIEW SCHOOL | PK-8 | 549 | 11.7 |
| OGALLALA HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 272 | 10.9 |
Ogallala questions
Is Ogallala, Nebraska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ogallala scores better for retirees than 30% of Nebraska towns and quieter than 20%. 25.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.1).
How much does a house cost in Ogallala?
The median owner-occupied home in Ogallala is valued at $155,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $58,556, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $667 a month.
What is the weather like in Ogallala?
July highs average 89.6°F and January lows 15.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 19.5 inches of precipitation a year and 24.6 inches of snow.
Does Ogallala get tornadoes?
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ogallala since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on May 23, 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)