The Town FilesRalston, Nebraska
City in Douglas County · population 6,494 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $230,800
- Household income
- $69,403
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 36 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 36
- Median age
- 37.3
Ralston is a city of 6,494 people in Douglas County, Nebraska. The median home is worth $230,800, above the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). It ranks more walkable than 100% of Nebraska towns, more vibrant than 100% of Nebraska towns, hipper than 97% of Nebraska towns.
How Ralston 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 Ralston is worth $230,800, above the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $69,403, which is more affordable than 8% of Nebraska towns. Median rent is $1,215 a month. 63.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ralston | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $230,800 | $154,800 |
| Median rent | $1,215 | $818 |
| Median household income | $69,403 | $66,320 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 63.3% | 73.2% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1963 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Ralston
| People | Ralston | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.3 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.2% | 20.8% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.8% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.0% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 9.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.2% | — |
| Work from home | 10.0% | 5.2% |
| Average commute | 20.0 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.0% | 87.8% |
Weather in Ralston
July highs average 85.9°F and January lows 14.0°F. About 33.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 36.4 inches of snow (typical Nebraska town: 28.6 in). Expect about 27 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 136 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
36 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ralston since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Nebraska town. 14 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 6, 1975 about 2.2 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 5 deaths and 254 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 24, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 378 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on June 25, 2024.
Severe weather in Douglas County since 1996
Douglas County has been included in 29 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 22, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4896: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| May 21, 2025 | Winter Storm | DR-4868: Severe Winter Storm And Straight-Line Winds |
| October 21, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4838: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Douglas County
Douglas County had 340,716 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $67,868 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Ralston itself the ACS puts it at 2.2%.
Public schools in Ralston
4 public schools with 2,105 students, about 15.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| RALSTON HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,039 | 17.9 |
| RALSTON MIDDLE SCHOOL | 7-8 | 473 | 13.1 |
| WILDEWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 302 | 15.1 |
| SEYMOUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 291 | 14.6 |
Towns near Ralston
- La Vista, NE2.0 mi · 16,746 people · home $260,900
- Omaha, NE4.4 mi · 486,051 people · home $245,500
- Papillion, NE4.5 mi · 24,159 people · home $311,000
- Chalco, NE5.2 mi · 11,064 people · home $238,600
- Bellevue, NE6.4 mi · 64,176 people · home $247,000
- Offutt AFB, NE8.2 mi · 5,363 people · home —
- Carter Lake, IA8.8 mi · 3,791 people · home $169,400
- Gretna, NE9.7 mi · 5,083 people · home $341,600
Ralston questions
Is Ralston, Nebraska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ralston scores better for retirees than 9% of Nebraska towns and quieter than 3%. 16.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.3).
How much does a house cost in Ralston?
The median owner-occupied home in Ralston is valued at $230,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $69,403, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $1,215 a month.
What is the weather like in Ralston?
July highs average 85.9°F and January lows 14.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.2 inches of precipitation a year and 36.4 inches of snow.
Does Ralston get tornadoes?
36 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ralston since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 6, 1975. 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)