What are the schools like in Emerson, NE?

Emerson is served primarily by EMERSON-HUBBARD PUBLIC SCHOOLS. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 8.5:1.

What is the median household income in Emerson?

The median household income in Emerson, NE is $61,250 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 2.5%.

What is the weather like in Emerson, NE?

Emerson has an average high temperature of 31.7°F in January and 86.3°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 29.6 inches and annual snowfall averages 30.6 inches.

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

Q: Is Emerson, NE affordable or expensive?

Emerson's cost of living index is 88, where 100 represents the national average. This means Emerson is 12% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $95,200 and the median rent is $717 per month.

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

Emerson has a violent crime rate of 194.7 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2192.2 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Emerson, NE a Good Place to Live?

Emerson is a small town of 891 in Nebraska, with a median household income of $61,250 and a 2.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is 12% below the national average.

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

All Emerson 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: 88.1

Emerson's overall cost of living index is 88.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Emerson costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.

Metric	Emerson, NE	National Avg
Median Home Value	$95,200	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$717	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	69.0%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$61,250	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Emerson's violent crime rate is 194.7 per 100,000 residents — 49% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

194.7 /100k

Property Crime

2192.2 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Emerson is served primarily by EMERSON-HUBBARD PUBLIC SCHOOLS. The student-to-teacher ratio is 8.5:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Emerson, NE	National Avg
School District	EMERSON-HUBBARD PUBLIC SCHOOLS	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	8.5:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	8.3%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	83.3%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Emerson sees average highs of 31.7°F in January and 86.3°F in July, with 29.6 inches of annual precipitation and 30.6 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Emerson, NE
Average High — January	31.7°F
Average High — July	86.3°F
Annual Precipitation	29.6"
Annual Snowfall	30.6"

Demographics

Metric	Emerson, NE	National Avg
Population	891	—
Median Age	43.4	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.5%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	21.6 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	83.8%	59.3%
Black or African American	2.8%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.6%	18.9%
Asian	0.8%	6.3%
Under 18	22.4%	22.2%
65 and over	21.1%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Wakefield, NE 7 mi Thurston, NE 7 mi Hubbard, NE 10 mi Allen, NE 11 mi Pender, NE 12 mi

ZIP Codes in Emerson

Emerson, NE is covered by 1 ZIP code:

68733

Emerson vs Other Cities

Emerson, NE vs Wakefield, NE Emerson, NE vs Thurston, NE Emerson, NE vs Hubbard, NE Emerson, NE vs Allen, NE Emerson, NE vs Pender, NE

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Emerson, NE affordable or expensive?

Emerson's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average. That makes Emerson roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $95,200 and median rent is $717/month.

What is the crime rate in Emerson, NE?

Emerson's violent crime rate is 194.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2192.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Emerson?

Public schools in Emerson are operated by EMERSON-HUBBARD PUBLIC SCHOOLS. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 8.5:1. 8.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Emerson, NE a good place to live?

Emerson, NE has a population of 891, a median household income of $61,250, and an unemployment rate of 2.5%. 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 Emerson?

Emerson averages 31.7°F in January and 86.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 29.6 inches with about 30.6 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Emerson?

Emerson, NE is covered by 1 ZIP code: 68733.

What is the population of Emerson?

The population of Emerson, Nebraska is 891 with a median age of 43.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Emerson?

Key numbers for living in Emerson: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $95,200, median household income $61,250, crime index 72 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Emerson side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.