Hershey is a small town of 668 in Nebraska, with a median household income of $70,781
and a 1.9% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is
10% below the national average.
Strengths:
Hershey 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 Hershey is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Hershey 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: 89.6
Hershey's overall cost of living index is 89.6,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Hershey costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.
Metric
Hershey, NE
National Avg
Median Home Value
$143,800
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$741
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
81.1%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$70,781
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Hershey's violent crime rate is 108.8 per 100,000 residents
— 71% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
108.8 /100k
Property Crime
1770.1 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Hershey is served primarily by HERSHEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.2:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Hershey, NE
National Avg
School District
HERSHEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.2:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
13.1%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
92.4%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Hershey sees average highs of 38.9°F in January
and 88.3°F in July,
with 19.6 inches of annual precipitation
and 26.9 inches of snow per year.
Hershey's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Hershey roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $143,800 and median rent is $741/month.
Hershey's violent crime rate is 108.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1770.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Hershey are operated by HERSHEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.2:1. 13.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Hershey, NE has a population of 668, a median household income of $70,781, and an unemployment rate of 1.9%.
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.
Hershey averages 38.9°F in January and 88.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 19.6 inches
with about 26.9 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Hershey, NE is covered by 1 ZIP code: 69143.
The population of Hershey, Nebraska is 668 with a median age of 42.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Hershey: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $143,800, median household income $70,781, crime index 51 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Hershey side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
