What are the schools like in Ogallala, NE?

Ogallala is served primarily by OGALLALA PUBLIC SCHOOLS. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 10.5:1.

What is the median household income in Ogallala?

The median household income in Ogallala, NE is $57,045 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 3.5%.

What is the weather like in Ogallala, NE?

Ogallala has an average high temperature of 39.7°F in January and 89.6°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 19.5 inches and annual snowfall averages 24.6 inches.

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

Q: Is Ogallala, NE affordable or expensive?

Ogallala's cost of living index is 89, where 100 represents the national average. This means Ogallala is 11% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $133,200 and the median rent is $715 per month.

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

Ogallala has a violent crime rate of 173.2 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1710.7 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Ogallala, NE a Good Place to Live?

Ogallala is a small town of 4,835 in Nebraska, with a median household income of $57,045 and a 3.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is 11% below the national average.

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

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

All Ogallala 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: 89.0

Ogallala's overall cost of living index is 89.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Ogallala costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.

Metric	Ogallala, NE	National Avg
Median Home Value	$133,200	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$715	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	69.0%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$57,045	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Ogallala's violent crime rate is 173.2 per 100,000 residents — 54% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

173.2 /100k

Property Crime

1710.7 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Ogallala is served primarily by OGALLALA PUBLIC SCHOOLS. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.5:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Ogallala, NE	National Avg
School District	OGALLALA PUBLIC SCHOOLS	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	10.5:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	21.9%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	89.2%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Ogallala sees average highs of 39.7°F in January and 89.6°F in July, with 19.5 inches of annual precipitation and 24.6 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Ogallala, NE
Average High — January	39.7°F
Average High — July	89.6°F
Annual Precipitation	19.5"
Annual Snowfall	24.6"

Demographics

Metric	Ogallala, NE	National Avg
Population	4,835	—
Median Age	46.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	3.5%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	11.7 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	87.0%	59.3%
Black or African American	2.5%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	8.8%	18.9%
Asian	0.7%	6.3%
Under 18	21.7%	22.2%
65 and over	24.8%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Roscoe, NE 7 mi Martin, NE 9 mi Brule, NE 9 mi Keystone, NE 9 mi Lemoyne, NE 11 mi

ZIP Codes in Ogallala

Ogallala, NE is covered by 1 ZIP code:

69153

Ogallala vs Other Cities

Ogallala, NE vs Roscoe, NE Ogallala, NE vs Martin, NE Ogallala, NE vs Brule, NE Ogallala, NE vs Keystone, NE Ogallala, NE vs Lemoyne, NE

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ogallala, NE affordable or expensive?

Ogallala's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average. That makes Ogallala roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $133,200 and median rent is $715/month.

What is the crime rate in Ogallala, NE?

Ogallala's violent crime rate is 173.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1710.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Ogallala?

Public schools in Ogallala are operated by OGALLALA PUBLIC SCHOOLS. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.5:1. 21.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Ogallala, NE a good place to live?

Ogallala, NE has a population of 4,835, a median household income of $57,045, and an unemployment rate of 3.5%. 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 Ogallala?

Ogallala averages 39.7°F in January and 89.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 19.5 inches with about 24.6 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Ogallala?

Ogallala, NE is covered by 1 ZIP code: 69153.

What is the population of Ogallala?

The population of Ogallala, Nebraska is 4,835 with a median age of 46.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Ogallala?

Key numbers for living in Ogallala: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $133,200, median household income $57,045, crime index 60 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Ogallala side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.