What are the schools like in Central City, NE?

Central City is served primarily by CENTRAL CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.5:1.

What is the median household income in Central City?

The median household income in Central City, NE is $54,063 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 0.0%.

What is the weather like in Central City, NE?

Central City has an average high temperature of 34.8°F in January and 85.5°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 28.5 inches and annual snowfall averages 28.6 inches.

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

Q: Is Central City, NE affordable or expensive?

Central City's cost of living index is 87, where 100 represents the national average. This means Central City is 13% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $159,100 and the median rent is $681 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Central City, NE?

Central City has a violent crime rate of 65.8 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 395.0 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Central City, NE a Good Place to Live?

Central City is a small town of 3,035 in Nebraska, with a median household income of $54,063 . Its cost of living index is 87 (US average = 100), which is 13% below the national average.

Strengths: Central City 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 Central City is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Central City 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: 87.3

Central City's overall cost of living index is 87.3, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Central City costs roughly 13% less than the average American city.

Metric	Central City, NE	National Avg
Median Home Value	$159,100	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$681	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	64.9%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$54,063	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Central City's violent crime rate is 65.8 per 100,000 residents — 83% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

65.8 /100k

Property Crime

395.0 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Central City is served primarily by CENTRAL CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.5:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Central City, NE	National Avg
School District	CENTRAL CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.5:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	19.6%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	95.6%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Central City sees average highs of 34.8°F in January and 85.5°F in July, with 28.5 inches of annual precipitation and 28.6 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Central City, NE
Average High — January	34.8°F
Average High — July	85.5°F
Annual Precipitation	28.5"
Annual Snowfall	28.6"

Demographics

Metric	Central City, NE	National Avg
Population	3,035	—
Median Age	37.0	38.9
Unemployment Rate	0.0%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	22.7 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	89.5%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.1%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	5.4%	18.9%
Asian	2.8%	6.3%
Under 18	24.6%	22.2%
65 and over	20.3%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Overland, NE 3 mi Hordville, NE 6 mi Marquette, NE 7 mi Archer, NE 8 mi Chapman, NE 10 mi

ZIP Codes in Central City

Central City, NE is covered by 1 ZIP code:

68826

Central City vs Other Cities

Central City, NE vs Overland, NE Central City, NE vs Hordville, NE Central City, NE vs Marquette, NE Central City, NE vs Archer, NE Central City, NE vs Chapman, NE

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Central City, NE affordable or expensive?

Central City's cost of living index is 87, where 100 is the national average. That makes Central City roughly 13% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $159,100 and median rent is $681/month.

What is the crime rate in Central City, NE?

Central City's violent crime rate is 65.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 395.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Central City?

Public schools in Central City are operated by CENTRAL CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.5:1. 19.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Central City, NE a good place to live?

Central City, NE has a population of 3,035, a median household income of $54,063, and an unemployment rate of 0.0%. 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 Central City?

Central City averages 34.8°F in January and 85.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 28.5 inches with about 28.6 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Central City?

Central City, NE is covered by 1 ZIP code: 68826.

What is the population of Central City?

The population of Central City, Nebraska is 3,035 with a median age of 37.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Central City?

Key numbers for living in Central City: cost of living index 87 (100 = US average), median home $159,100, median household income $54,063, crime index 18 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Central City side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.