What are the schools like in McCook, NE?

McCook is served primarily by MC COOK PUBLIC SCHOOLS. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.0:1.

What is the median household income in McCook?

The median household income in McCook, NE is $53,750 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 McCook, NE?

McCook has an average high temperature of 41.2°F in January and 91.2°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 21.1 inches and annual snowfall averages 20.4 inches.

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

Q: Is McCook, NE affordable or expensive?

McCook's cost of living index is 90, where 100 represents the national average. This means McCook is 10% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $141,700 and the median rent is $782 per month.

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

McCook has a violent crime rate of 41.7 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1041.7 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is McCook, NE a Good Place to Live?

McCook is a small town of 7,412 in Nebraska, with a median household income of $53,750 and a 2.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is 10% below the national average.

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

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

All McCook 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: 90.0

McCook's overall cost of living index is 90.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in McCook costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.

Metric	McCook, NE	National Avg
Median Home Value	$141,700	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$782	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	66.2%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$53,750	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

McCook's violent crime rate is 41.7 per 100,000 residents — 89% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

41.7 /100k

Property Crime

1041.7 /100k

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

Schools & Education

McCook is served primarily by MC COOK PUBLIC SCHOOLS. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.0:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	McCook, NE	National Avg
School District	MC COOK PUBLIC SCHOOLS	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.0:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	26.9%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	92.5%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

McCook sees average highs of 41.2°F in January and 91.2°F in July, with 21.1 inches of annual precipitation and 20.4 inches of snow per year.

Metric	McCook, NE
Average High — January	41.2°F
Average High — July	91.2°F
Annual Precipitation	21.1"
Annual Snowfall	20.4"

Demographics

Metric	McCook, NE	National Avg
Population	7,412	—
Median Age	41.5	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.6%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	10.7 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	91.7%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	3.5%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	19.9%	22.2%
65 and over	21.8%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Indianola, NE 11 mi Culbertson, NE 12 mi Danbury, NE 16 mi Bartley, NE 17 mi Trenton, NE 21 mi

ZIP Codes in McCook

McCook, NE is covered by 1 ZIP code:

69001

McCook vs Other Cities

McCook, NE vs Indianola, NE McCook, NE vs Culbertson, NE McCook, NE vs Danbury, NE McCook, NE vs Bartley, NE McCook, NE vs Trenton, NE

Frequently Asked Questions

Is McCook, NE affordable or expensive?

McCook's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average. That makes McCook roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $141,700 and median rent is $782/month.

What is the crime rate in McCook, NE?

McCook's violent crime rate is 41.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1041.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in McCook?

Public schools in McCook are operated by MC COOK PUBLIC SCHOOLS. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.0:1. 26.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is McCook, NE a good place to live?

McCook, NE has a population of 7,412, a median household income of $53,750, 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 McCook?

McCook averages 41.2°F in January and 91.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 21.1 inches with about 20.4 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in McCook?

McCook, NE is covered by 1 ZIP code: 69001.

What is the population of McCook?

The population of McCook, Nebraska is 7,412 with a median age of 41.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in McCook?

Key numbers for living in McCook: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $141,700, median household income $53,750, crime index 26 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare McCook side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.