What are the schools like in Brainard, NE?

Brainard is served primarily by EAST BUTLER PUBLIC SCHOOLS. The district operates 2 elementary schools, several middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 9.0:1.

What is the median household income in Brainard?

The median household income in Brainard, NE is $71,250 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 1.3%.

What is the weather like in Brainard, NE?

Brainard has an average high temperature of 31.1°F in January and 85.9°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 30.3 inches and annual snowfall averages 31.8 inches.

Brainard, NE Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Brainard, NE affordable or expensive?

Brainard's cost of living index is 90, where 100 represents the national average. This means Brainard is 10% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $137,500 and the median rent is $838 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Brainard, NE?

Brainard has a violent crime rate of 12.5 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 99.8 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Brainard, NE a Good Place to Live?

Brainard is a small town of 366 in Nebraska, with a median household income of $71,250 and a 1.3% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is 10% below the national average.

Strengths: Brainard stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (A-), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Brainard is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Brainard city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 90.4

Brainard's overall cost of living index is 90.4, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Brainard costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.

Metric	Brainard, NE	National Avg
Median Home Value	$137,500	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$838	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	76.5%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$71,250	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Brainard's violent crime rate is 12.5 per 100,000 residents — 97% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

12.5 /100k

Property Crime

99.8 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Brainard is served primarily by EAST BUTLER PUBLIC SCHOOLS. The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.0:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Brainard, NE	National Avg
School District	EAST BUTLER PUBLIC SCHOOLS	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	9.0:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	22.5%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	95.5%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Brainard sees average highs of 31.1°F in January and 85.9°F in July, with 30.3 inches of annual precipitation and 31.8 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Brainard, NE
Average High — January	31.1°F
Average High — July	85.9°F
Annual Precipitation	30.3"
Annual Snowfall	31.8"

Demographics

Metric	Brainard, NE	National Avg
Population	366	—
Median Age	34.3	38.9
Unemployment Rate	1.3%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	22.6 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	98.9%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.0%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	21.0%	22.2%
65 and over	21.0%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Dwight, NE 7 mi Bruno, NE 7 mi David City, NE 8 mi Garrison, NE 8 mi Abie, NE 11 mi

ZIP Codes in Brainard

Brainard, NE is covered by 1 ZIP code:

68626

Brainard vs Other Cities

Brainard, NE vs Dwight, NE Brainard, NE vs Bruno, NE Brainard, NE vs David City, NE Brainard, NE vs Garrison, NE Brainard, NE vs Abie, NE

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Brainard, NE affordable or expensive?

Brainard's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average. That makes Brainard roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $137,500 and median rent is $838/month.

What is the crime rate in Brainard, NE?

Brainard's violent crime rate is 12.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 99.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Brainard?

Public schools in Brainard are operated by EAST BUTLER PUBLIC SCHOOLS. The district has 2 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.0:1. 22.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Brainard, NE a good place to live?

Brainard, NE has a population of 366, a median household income of $71,250, and an unemployment rate of 1.3%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Brainard?

Brainard averages 31.1°F in January and 85.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 30.3 inches with about 31.8 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Brainard?

Brainard, NE is covered by 1 ZIP code: 68626.

What is the population of Brainard?

The population of Brainard, Nebraska is 366 with a median age of 34.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Brainard?

Key numbers for living in Brainard: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $137,500, median household income $71,250, crime index 4 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Brainard side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.