What are the schools like in Plainview, NE?

Plainview is served primarily by PLAINVIEW PUBLIC SCHOOLS. The district operates 1 elementary schools, several middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 11.5:1.

What is the median household income in Plainview?

The median household income in Plainview, NE is $51,210 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.7%.

What is the weather like in Plainview, NE?

Plainview has an average high temperature of 31.2°F in January and 86.2°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 29.1 inches and annual snowfall averages 35.6 inches.

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

Q: Is Plainview, NE affordable or expensive?

Plainview's cost of living index is 87, where 100 represents the national average. This means Plainview is 13% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $85,700 and the median rent is $749 per month.

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

Plainview has a violent crime rate of 14.0 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 251.8 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Plainview, NE a Good Place to Live?

Plainview is a small town of 1,326 in Nebraska, with a median household income of $51,210 and a 5.7% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 87 (US average = 100), which is 13% below the national average.

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

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Plainview is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Plainview 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: 87.2

Plainview's overall cost of living index is 87.2, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Plainview costs roughly 13% less than the average American city.

Metric	Plainview, NE	National Avg
Median Home Value	$85,700	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$749	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	68.3%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$51,210	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Plainview's violent crime rate is 14.0 per 100,000 residents — 96% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

14.0 /100k

Property Crime

251.8 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Plainview is served primarily by PLAINVIEW PUBLIC SCHOOLS. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.5:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Plainview, NE	National Avg
School District	PLAINVIEW PUBLIC SCHOOLS	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	11.5:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	15.5%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	89.7%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Plainview sees average highs of 31.2°F in January and 86.2°F in July, with 29.1 inches of annual precipitation and 35.6 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Plainview, NE
Average High — January	31.2°F
Average High — July	86.2°F
Annual Precipitation	29.1"
Annual Snowfall	35.6"

Demographics

Metric	Plainview, NE	National Avg
Population	1,326	—
Median Age	40.1	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.7%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	18.7 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	89.3%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	5.6%	18.9%
Asian	0.4%	6.3%
Under 18	26.0%	22.2%
65 and over	19.9%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Foster, NE 8 mi Brunswick, NE 9 mi Osmond, NE 10 mi Creighton, NE 10 mi Bazile Mills, NE 13 mi

ZIP Codes in Plainview

Plainview, NE is covered by 1 ZIP code:

68769

Plainview vs Other Cities

Plainview, NE vs Foster, NE Plainview, NE vs Brunswick, NE Plainview, NE vs Osmond, NE Plainview, NE vs Creighton, NE Plainview, NE vs Bazile Mills, NE

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Plainview, NE affordable or expensive?

Plainview's cost of living index is 87, where 100 is the national average. That makes Plainview roughly 13% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $85,700 and median rent is $749/month.

What is the crime rate in Plainview, NE?

Plainview's violent crime rate is 14.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 251.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Plainview?

Public schools in Plainview are operated by PLAINVIEW PUBLIC SCHOOLS. The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.5:1. 15.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Plainview, NE a good place to live?

Plainview, NE has a population of 1,326, a median household income of $51,210, and an unemployment rate of 5.7%. 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 Plainview?

Plainview averages 31.2°F in January and 86.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 29.1 inches with about 35.6 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Plainview?

Plainview, NE is covered by 1 ZIP code: 68769.

What is the population of Plainview?

The population of Plainview, Nebraska is 1,326 with a median age of 40.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Plainview?

Key numbers for living in Plainview: cost of living index 87 (100 = US average), median home $85,700, median household income $51,210, crime index 7 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Plainview side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.