What are the schools like in Ralston, NE?

Ralston is served primarily by RALSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS. The district operates 6 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.5:1.

What is the median household income in Ralston?

The median household income in Ralston, NE is $61,554 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 1.8%.

What is the weather like in Ralston, NE?

Ralston has an average high temperature of 32.4°F in January and 85.9°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 32.7 inches and annual snowfall averages 36.4 inches.

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

Q: Is Ralston, NE affordable or expensive?

Ralston's cost of living index is 92, where 100 represents the national average. This means Ralston is 8% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $201,800 and the median rent is $1,087 per month.

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

Ralston has a violent crime rate of 109.8 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1208.0 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Ralston, NE a Good Place to Live?

Ralston is a small town of 6,462 in Nebraska, with a median household income of $61,554 and a 1.8% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is 8% below the national average.

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

All Ralston 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: 92.5

Ralston's overall cost of living index is 92.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Ralston costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.

Metric	Ralston, NE	National Avg
Median Home Value	$201,800	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,087	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	56.8%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$61,554	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Ralston's violent crime rate is 109.8 per 100,000 residents — 71% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

109.8 /100k

Property Crime

1208.0 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Ralston is served primarily by RALSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.5:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Ralston, NE	National Avg
School District	RALSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS	—
Elementary Schools	6	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.5:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	28.7%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	91.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Ralston sees average highs of 32.4°F in January and 85.9°F in July, with 32.7 inches of annual precipitation and 36.4 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Ralston, NE
Average High — January	32.4°F
Average High — July	85.9°F
Annual Precipitation	32.7"
Annual Snowfall	36.4"

Demographics

Metric	Ralston, NE	National Avg
Population	6,462	—
Median Age	36.0	38.9
Unemployment Rate	1.8%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	20.5 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	82.4%	59.3%
Black or African American	4.3%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	9.3%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	17.9%	22.2%
65 and over	18.5%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

La Vista, NE 2 mi Omaha, NE 4 mi Papillion, NE 4 mi Chalco, NE 5 mi Bellevue, NE 6 mi

Ralston vs Other Cities

Ralston, NE vs La Vista, NE Ralston, NE vs Omaha, NE Ralston, NE vs Papillion, NE Ralston, NE vs Chalco, NE Ralston, NE vs Bellevue, NE

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ralston, NE affordable or expensive?

Ralston's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average. That makes Ralston roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $201,800 and median rent is $1,087/month.

What is the crime rate in Ralston, NE?

Ralston's violent crime rate is 109.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1208.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Ralston?

Public schools in Ralston are operated by RALSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS. The district has 6 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.5:1. 28.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Ralston, NE a good place to live?

Ralston, NE has a population of 6,462, a median household income of $61,554, and an unemployment rate of 1.8%. 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 Ralston?

Ralston averages 32.4°F in January and 85.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 32.7 inches with about 36.4 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What is the population of Ralston?

The population of Ralston, Nebraska is 6,462 with a median age of 36.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Ralston?

Key numbers for living in Ralston: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $201,800, median household income $61,554, crime index 40 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Ralston side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.