What are the schools like in Red Cloud, NE?

Red Cloud is served primarily by RED CLOUD COMMUNITY SCHOOLS. The district operates 1 elementary schools, several middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 10.9:1.

What is the median household income in Red Cloud?

The median household income in Red Cloud, NE is $48,438 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 1.2%.

What is the weather like in Red Cloud, NE?

Red Cloud has an average high temperature of 37.3°F in January and 90.5°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 25.5 inches and annual snowfall averages 18.6 inches.

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

Q: Is Red Cloud, NE affordable or expensive?

Red Cloud's cost of living index is 84, where 100 represents the national average. This means Red Cloud is 16% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $57,200 and the median rent is $606 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Red Cloud, NE?

Crime rate data for Red Cloud is not currently available from the FBI's reported data.

Is Red Cloud, NE a Good Place to Live?

Red Cloud is a small town of 917 in Nebraska, with a median household income of $48,438 and a 1.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 84 (US average = 100), which is 16% below the national average.

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

All Red Cloud 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: 83.5

Red Cloud's overall cost of living index is 83.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Red Cloud costs roughly 16% less than the average American city.

Metric	Red Cloud, NE	National Avg
Median Home Value	$57,200	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$606	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	74.9%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$48,438	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Crime data for Red Cloud is not currently available from the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program. Not all local agencies report to the UCR each year.

Schools & Education

Red Cloud is served primarily by RED CLOUD COMMUNITY SCHOOLS. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.9:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Red Cloud, NE	National Avg
School District	RED CLOUD COMMUNITY SCHOOLS	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	10.9:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	16.3%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	92.4%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Red Cloud sees average highs of 37.3°F in January and 90.5°F in July, with 25.5 inches of annual precipitation and 18.6 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Red Cloud, NE
Average High — January	37.3°F
Average High — July	90.5°F
Annual Precipitation	25.5"
Annual Snowfall	18.6"

Demographics

Metric	Red Cloud, NE	National Avg
Population	917	—
Median Age	48.1	38.9
Unemployment Rate	1.2%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	14.1 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	91.1%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.1%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.3%	18.9%
Asian	0.4%	6.3%
Under 18	17.8%	22.2%
65 and over	26.8%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Inavale, NE 7 mi Cowles, NE 7 mi Guide Rock, NE 10 mi Riverton, NE 13 mi Bladen, NE 17 mi

ZIP Codes in Red Cloud

Red Cloud, NE is covered by 1 ZIP code:

68970

Red Cloud vs Other Cities

Red Cloud, NE vs Inavale, NE Red Cloud, NE vs Cowles, NE Red Cloud, NE vs Guide Rock, NE Red Cloud, NE vs Riverton, NE Red Cloud, NE vs Bladen, NE

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Red Cloud, NE affordable or expensive?

Red Cloud's cost of living index is 84, where 100 is the national average. That makes Red Cloud roughly 16% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $57,200 and median rent is $606/month.

What is the crime rate in Red Cloud, NE?

Crime data for Red Cloud is not available in the current FBI UCR reporting year. Not all jurisdictions submit data annually.

What are the schools like in Red Cloud?

Public schools in Red Cloud are operated by RED CLOUD COMMUNITY SCHOOLS. The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.9:1. 16.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Red Cloud, NE a good place to live?

Red Cloud, NE has a population of 917, a median household income of $48,438, and an unemployment rate of 1.2%. 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 Red Cloud?

Red Cloud averages 37.3°F in January and 90.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 25.5 inches with about 18.6 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Red Cloud?

Red Cloud, NE is covered by 1 ZIP code: 68970.

What is the population of Red Cloud?

The population of Red Cloud, Nebraska is 917 with a median age of 48.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Red Cloud?

Key numbers for living in Red Cloud: cost of living index 84 (100 = US average), median home $57,200, median household income $48,438, schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Red Cloud side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.