What are the schools like in Broken Bow, NE?

Broken Bow is served primarily by BROKEN BOW PUBLIC SCHOOLS. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.3:1.

What is the median household income in Broken Bow?

The median household income in Broken Bow, NE is $49,425 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 2.2%.

What is the weather like in Broken Bow, NE?

Broken Bow has an average high temperature of 36.9°F in January and 86.1°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 25.8 inches and annual snowfall averages 29.5 inches.

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

Q: Is Broken Bow, NE affordable or expensive?

Broken Bow's cost of living index is 88, where 100 represents the national average. This means Broken Bow is 12% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $108,600 and the median rent is $747 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Broken Bow, NE?

Broken Bow has a violent crime rate of 84.5 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 140.8 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Broken Bow, NE a Good Place to Live?

Broken Bow is a small town of 3,510 in Nebraska, with a median household income of $49,425 and a 2.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is 12% below the national average.

Strengths: Broken Bow stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.

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

All Broken Bow 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: 88.3

Broken Bow's overall cost of living index is 88.3, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Broken Bow costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.

Metric	Broken Bow, NE	National Avg
Median Home Value	$108,600	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$747	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	60.3%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$49,425	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Broken Bow's violent crime rate is 84.5 per 100,000 residents — 78% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

84.5 /100k

Property Crime

140.8 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Broken Bow is served primarily by BROKEN BOW PUBLIC SCHOOLS. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.3:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Broken Bow, NE	National Avg
School District	BROKEN BOW PUBLIC SCHOOLS	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.3:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	22.4%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	93.5%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Broken Bow sees average highs of 36.9°F in January and 86.1°F in July, with 25.8 inches of annual precipitation and 29.5 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Broken Bow, NE
Average High — January	36.9°F
Average High — July	86.1°F
Annual Precipitation	25.8"
Annual Snowfall	29.5"

Demographics

Metric	Broken Bow, NE	National Avg
Population	3,510	—
Median Age	41.4	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.2%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	10.0 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	94.1%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.6%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.6%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	26.6%	22.2%
65 and over	20.7%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Berwyn, NE 8 mi Merna, NE 8 mi Westerville, NE 13 mi Ansley, NE 16 mi Callaway, NE 16 mi

ZIP Codes in Broken Bow

Broken Bow, NE is covered by 1 ZIP code:

68822

Broken Bow vs Other Cities

Broken Bow, NE vs Berwyn, NE Broken Bow, NE vs Merna, NE Broken Bow, NE vs Westerville, NE Broken Bow, NE vs Ansley, NE Broken Bow, NE vs Callaway, NE

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Broken Bow, NE affordable or expensive?

Broken Bow's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average. That makes Broken Bow roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $108,600 and median rent is $747/month.

What is the crime rate in Broken Bow, NE?

Broken Bow's violent crime rate is 84.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 140.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Broken Bow?

Public schools in Broken Bow are operated by BROKEN BOW PUBLIC SCHOOLS. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.3:1. 22.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Broken Bow, NE a good place to live?

Broken Bow, NE has a population of 3,510, a median household income of $49,425, and an unemployment rate of 2.2%. 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 Broken Bow?

Broken Bow averages 36.9°F in January and 86.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 25.8 inches with about 29.5 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Broken Bow?

Broken Bow, NE is covered by 1 ZIP code: 68822.

What is the population of Broken Bow?

The population of Broken Bow, Nebraska is 3,510 with a median age of 41.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Broken Bow?

Key numbers for living in Broken Bow: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $108,600, median household income $49,425, crime index 16 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Broken Bow side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.