The Town FilesWaverly, Nebraska
City in Lancaster County · population 4,279 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $316,600
- Household income
- $111,632
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 26 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 34
- Median age
- 38.6
Waverly is a city of 4,279 people in Lancaster County, Nebraska. The median home is worth $316,600, above the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). It ranks easier by car than 100% of Nebraska towns, more upscale than 96% of Nebraska towns, better for families than 95% of Nebraska towns.
How Waverly 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 Waverly is worth $316,600, above the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $111,632, which is more affordable than 22% of Nebraska towns. Median rent is $1,076 a month. 81.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Waverly | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $316,600 | $154,800 |
| Median rent | $1,076 | $818 |
| Median household income | $111,632 | $66,320 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 81.0% | 73.2% |
| Median year built | 1996 | 1963 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.6% | — |
Who lives in Waverly
| People | Waverly | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.6 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.6% | 20.8% |
| Under 18 | 31.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 40.9% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 0.5% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 10.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.1% | — |
| Work from home | 9.7% | 5.2% |
| Average commute | 24.0 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.7% | 87.8% |
Weather in Waverly
July highs average 87.1°F and January lows 13.8°F. About 32.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 26.1 inches of snow (typical Nebraska town: 28.6 in). Expect about 32 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 146 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
34 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Waverly since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Nebraska town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 25, 1957 about 3.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 17, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 109 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 17, 2025.
Severe weather in Lancaster County since 1996
Lancaster County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| 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 |
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4521: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3483: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Lancaster County
Lancaster County had 175,346 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,332 a year. Unemployment was 2.1% in 2023; in Waverly itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Waverly
4 public schools with 1,851 students, about 14.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAVERLY HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 680 | 15.1 |
| WAVERLY MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 514 | 14.3 |
| EVELYN HAMLOW ELEMENTARY | PK-2 | 340 | 14.2 |
| WAVERLY INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL | 3-5 | 317 | 15.9 |
Towns near Waverly
- Lincoln, NE10.2 mi · 291,082 people · home $264,000
- Ashland, NE12.2 mi · 3,086 people · home $249,700
- Hickman, NE20.4 mi · 2,607 people · home $311,700
- Wahoo, NE21.5 mi · 4,818 people · home $243,600
- Gretna, NE23.1 mi · 5,083 people · home $341,600
- Chalco, NE27.9 mi · 11,064 people · home $238,600
- Papillion, NE28.6 mi · 24,159 people · home $311,000
- Seward, NE29.4 mi · 7,643 people · home $244,600
Waverly questions
Is Waverly, Nebraska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Waverly scores better for retirees than 58% of Nebraska towns and quieter than 27%. 18.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.6).
How much does a house cost in Waverly?
The median owner-occupied home in Waverly is valued at $316,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $111,632, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $1,076 a month.
What is the weather like in Waverly?
July highs average 87.1°F and January lows 13.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 32.3 inches of precipitation a year and 26.1 inches of snow.
Does Waverly get tornadoes?
34 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Waverly since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 25, 1957. 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)