What are the schools like in Cook, NE?

Cook is served primarily by JOHNSON CO CENTRAL PUBLIC SCHS. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 10.7:1.

What is the median household income in Cook?

The median household income in Cook, NE is $62,500 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 0.8%.

What is the weather like in Cook, NE?

Cook has an average high temperature of 34.4°F in January and 88.2°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 33.3 inches and annual snowfall averages 25.5 inches.

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

Q: Is Cook, NE affordable or expensive?

Cook's cost of living index is 84, where 100 represents the national average. This means Cook is 16% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $78,100 and the median rent is $504 per month.

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

Cook has a violent crime rate of 78.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 256.4 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Cook, NE a Good Place to Live?

Cook is a small town of 450 in Nebraska, with a median household income of $62,500 and a 0.8% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 84 (US average = 100), which is 16% below the national average.

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

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

All Cook 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: 83.5

Cook's overall cost of living index is 83.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Cook costs roughly 16% less than the average American city.

Metric	Cook, NE	National Avg
Median Home Value	$78,100	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$504	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	69.9%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$62,500	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Cook's violent crime rate is 78.9 per 100,000 residents — 79% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

78.9 /100k

Property Crime

256.4 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Cook is served primarily by JOHNSON CO CENTRAL PUBLIC SCHS. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.7:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Cook, NE	National Avg
School District	JOHNSON CO CENTRAL PUBLIC SCHS	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	10.7:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	20.2%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	93.9%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Cook sees average highs of 34.4°F in January and 88.2°F in July, with 33.3 inches of annual precipitation and 25.5 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Cook, NE
Average High — January	34.4°F
Average High — July	88.2°F
Annual Precipitation	33.3"
Annual Snowfall	25.5"

Demographics

Metric	Cook, NE	National Avg
Population	450	—
Median Age	34.3	38.9
Unemployment Rate	0.8%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	21.9 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	97.1%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.8%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.0%	18.9%
Asian	0.9%	6.3%
Under 18	23.6%	22.2%
65 and over	14.9%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Talmage, NE 7 mi Burr, NE 7 mi Lorton, NE 9 mi Tecumseh, NE 10 mi Syracuse, NE 11 mi

ZIP Codes in Cook

Cook, NE is covered by 1 ZIP code:

68329

Cook vs Other Cities

Cook, NE vs Talmage, NE Cook, NE vs Burr, NE Cook, NE vs Lorton, NE Cook, NE vs Tecumseh, NE Cook, NE vs Syracuse, NE

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cook, NE affordable or expensive?

Cook's cost of living index is 84, where 100 is the national average. That makes Cook roughly 16% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $78,100 and median rent is $504/month.

What is the crime rate in Cook, NE?

Cook's violent crime rate is 78.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 256.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Cook?

Public schools in Cook are operated by JOHNSON CO CENTRAL PUBLIC SCHS. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.7:1. 20.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Cook, NE a good place to live?

Cook, NE has a population of 450, a median household income of $62,500, and an unemployment rate of 0.8%. 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 Cook?

Cook averages 34.4°F in January and 88.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 33.3 inches with about 25.5 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Cook?

Cook, NE is covered by 1 ZIP code: 68329.

What is the population of Cook?

The population of Cook, Nebraska is 450 with a median age of 34.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Cook?

Key numbers for living in Cook: cost of living index 84 (100 = US average), median home $78,100, median household income $62,500, crime index 17 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Cook side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.