What are the schools like in Elm Creek, NE?

Elm Creek is served primarily by ELM CREEK PUBLIC SCHOOLS. The district operates 1 elementary schools, several middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.0:1.

What is the median household income in Elm Creek?

The median household income in Elm Creek, NE is $68,500 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 2.6%.

What is the weather like in Elm Creek, NE?

Elm Creek has an average high temperature of 38.0°F in January and 86.4°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 25.0 inches and annual snowfall averages 25.0 inches.

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

Q: Is Elm Creek, NE affordable or expensive?

Elm Creek's cost of living index is 91, where 100 represents the national average. This means Elm Creek is 9% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $161,100 and the median rent is $817 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Elm Creek, NE?

Elm Creek has a violent crime rate of 259.8 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1363.3 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Elm Creek, NE a Good Place to Live?

Elm Creek is a small town of 1,176 in Nebraska, with a median household income of $68,500 and a 2.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is 9% below the national average.

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

All Elm Creek 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: 91.0

Elm Creek's overall cost of living index is 91.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Elm Creek costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.

Metric	Elm Creek, NE	National Avg
Median Home Value	$161,100	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$817	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	70.2%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$68,500	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Elm Creek's violent crime rate is 259.8 per 100,000 residents — 32% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

259.8 /100k

Property Crime

1363.3 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Elm Creek is served primarily by ELM CREEK PUBLIC SCHOOLS. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.0:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Elm Creek, NE	National Avg
School District	ELM CREEK PUBLIC SCHOOLS	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.0:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	27.4%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	95.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Elm Creek sees average highs of 38.0°F in January and 86.4°F in July, with 25.0 inches of annual precipitation and 25.0 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Elm Creek, NE
Average High — January	38.0°F
Average High — July	86.4°F
Annual Precipitation	25.0"
Annual Snowfall	25.0"

Demographics

Metric	Elm Creek, NE	National Avg
Population	1,176	—
Median Age	29.2	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.6%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	22.2 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	95.9%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.3%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.1%	18.9%
Asian	1.6%	6.3%
Under 18	32.4%	22.2%
65 and over	10.2%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Odessa, NE 7 mi Overton, NE 9 mi Amherst, NE 10 mi Riverdale, NE 12 mi Miller, NE 14 mi

ZIP Codes in Elm Creek

Elm Creek, NE is covered by 1 ZIP code:

68836

Elm Creek vs Other Cities

Elm Creek, NE vs Odessa, NE Elm Creek, NE vs Overton, NE Elm Creek, NE vs Amherst, NE Elm Creek, NE vs Riverdale, NE Elm Creek, NE vs Miller, NE

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Elm Creek, NE affordable or expensive?

Elm Creek's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average. That makes Elm Creek roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $161,100 and median rent is $817/month.

What is the crime rate in Elm Creek, NE?

Elm Creek's violent crime rate is 259.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1363.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Elm Creek?

Public schools in Elm Creek are operated by ELM CREEK PUBLIC SCHOOLS. The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.0:1. 27.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Elm Creek, NE a good place to live?

Elm Creek, NE has a population of 1,176, a median household income of $68,500, and an unemployment rate of 2.6%. 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 Elm Creek?

Elm Creek averages 38.0°F in January and 86.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 25.0 inches with about 25.0 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Elm Creek?

Elm Creek, NE is covered by 1 ZIP code: 68836.

What is the population of Elm Creek?

The population of Elm Creek, Nebraska is 1,176 with a median age of 29.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Elm Creek?

Key numbers for living in Elm Creek: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $161,100, median household income $68,500, crime index 67 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Elm Creek side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.