What are the schools like in Chadron, NE?

Chadron is served primarily by CHADRON PUBLIC SCHOOLS. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 11.4:1.

What is the median household income in Chadron?

The median household income in Chadron, NE is $53,728 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 1.8%.

What is the weather like in Chadron, NE?

Chadron has an average high temperature of 38.2°F in January and 89.3°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 18.8 inches and annual snowfall averages 50.3 inches.

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

Q: Is Chadron, NE affordable or expensive?

Chadron's cost of living index is 91, where 100 represents the national average. This means Chadron is 9% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $144,400 and the median rent is $832 per month.

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

Chadron has a violent crime rate of 214.3 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1908.8 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Chadron, NE a Good Place to Live?

Chadron is a small town of 5,255 in Nebraska, with a median household income of $53,728 and a 1.8% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is 9% below the national average.

Strengths: Chadron stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

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

All Chadron 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: 90.6

Chadron's overall cost of living index is 90.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Chadron costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.

Metric	Chadron, NE	National Avg
Median Home Value	$144,400	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$832	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	59.7%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$53,728	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Chadron's violent crime rate is 214.3 per 100,000 residents — 44% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

214.3 /100k

Property Crime

1908.8 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Chadron is served primarily by CHADRON PUBLIC SCHOOLS. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.4:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Chadron, NE	National Avg
School District	CHADRON PUBLIC SCHOOLS	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	11.4:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	46.8%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	94.0%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Chadron sees average highs of 38.2°F in January and 89.3°F in July, with 18.8 inches of annual precipitation and 50.3 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Chadron, NE
Average High — January	38.2°F
Average High — July	89.3°F
Annual Precipitation	18.8"
Annual Snowfall	50.3"

Demographics

Metric	Chadron, NE	National Avg
Population	5,255	—
Median Age	28.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	1.8%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	11.4 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	88.2%	59.3%
Black or African American	3.7%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.6%	18.9%
Asian	1.4%	6.3%
Under 18	18.6%	22.2%
65 and over	13.6%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Whitney, NE 13 mi Hay Springs, NE 19 mi Crawford, NE 23 mi White Clay, NE 26 mi Pine Ridge, SD 27 mi

ZIP Codes in Chadron

Chadron, NE is covered by 1 ZIP code:

69337

Chadron vs Other Cities

Chadron, NE vs Whitney, NE Chadron, NE vs Hay Springs, NE Chadron, NE vs Crawford, NE Chadron, NE vs White Clay, NE Chadron, NE vs Pine Ridge, SD

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Chadron, NE affordable or expensive?

Chadron's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average. That makes Chadron roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $144,400 and median rent is $832/month.

What is the crime rate in Chadron, NE?

Chadron's violent crime rate is 214.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1908.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Chadron?

Public schools in Chadron are operated by CHADRON PUBLIC SCHOOLS. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.4:1. 46.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Chadron, NE a good place to live?

Chadron, NE has a population of 5,255, a median household income of $53,728, and an unemployment rate of 1.8%. 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 Chadron?

Chadron averages 38.2°F in January and 89.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 18.8 inches with about 50.3 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Chadron?

Chadron, NE is covered by 1 ZIP code: 69337.

What is the population of Chadron?

The population of Chadron, Nebraska is 5,255 with a median age of 28.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Chadron?

Key numbers for living in Chadron: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $144,400, median household income $53,728, crime index 70 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Chadron side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.