The Town FilesValley, Nebraska
City in Douglas County · population 3,037 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $528,100
- Household income
- $110,200
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 32 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 50.2
Valley is a city of 3,037 people in Douglas County, Nebraska. The median home is worth $528,100, above the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). It ranks better for a vacation home than 98% of Nebraska towns, more of a college town than 93% of Nebraska towns, more upscale than 93% of Nebraska towns.
How Valley 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 Valley is worth $528,100, above the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). Homes cost about 4.8 times the median household income of $110,200, which is more affordable than 0% of Nebraska towns. Median rent is $962 a month. 74.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Valley | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $528,100 | $154,800 |
| Median rent | $962 | $818 |
| Median household income | $110,200 | $66,320 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.8× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 74.0% | 73.2% |
| Median year built | 1982 | 1963 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.0% | — |
Who lives in Valley
| People | Valley | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.2 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.1% | 20.8% |
| Under 18 | 19.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 51.2% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.3% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 6.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.5% | — |
| Work from home | 26.1% | 5.2% |
| Average commute | 28.5 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.8% | 87.8% |
Weather in Valley
July highs average 86.5°F and January lows 15.3°F. About 33.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 31.8 inches of snow (typical Nebraska town: 28.6 in). Expect about 25 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 136 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Valley since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Nebraska town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on April 26, 2024 about 5.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 24, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 175 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on July 28, 2023.
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 Valley itself the ACS puts it at 2.1%.
Public schools in Valley
4 public schools with 1,116 students, about 13.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| DOUGLAS CO WEST ELEMENTARY SCH | PK-5 | 540 | 14.2 |
| DOUGLAS CO WEST HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 331 | 12.7 |
| DOUGLAS CO WEST MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 245 | 11.1 |
| DOUGLAS CO WEST ALTERNATIVE HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Valley
- Fremont, NE10.7 mi · 27,141 people · home $214,700
- Wahoo, NE15.0 mi · 4,818 people · home $243,600
- Chalco, NE15.0 mi · 11,064 people · home $238,600
- Gretna, NE15.6 mi · 5,083 people · home $341,600
- Omaha, NE16.5 mi · 486,051 people · home $245,500
- La Vista, NE17.9 mi · 16,746 people · home $260,900
- Ralston, NE18.7 mi · 6,494 people · home $230,800
- Papillion, NE19.0 mi · 24,159 people · home $311,000
Valley questions
Is Valley, Nebraska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Valley scores better for retirees than 92% of Nebraska towns and quieter than 41%. 22.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 50.2).
How much does a house cost in Valley?
The median owner-occupied home in Valley is valued at $528,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $110,200, so homes cost about 4.8 times income. Median rent is $962 a month.
What is the weather like in Valley?
July highs average 86.5°F and January lows 15.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.1 inches of precipitation a year and 31.8 inches of snow.
Does Valley get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Valley since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on April 26, 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)