Below Average CostHigher than AverageSCOTTSBLUFF PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Downtown Scottsbluff, NE · Jared Winkler / CC BY-SA 4.0SBNMScottsbluffGering 2211 · Xnatedawgx / CC BY-SA 3.0Scottsbluff Water Tower Nebraska · Hayden Soloviev / CC BY 4.0
Scottsbluff is a small city of 14,454 in Nebraska, with a median household income of $55,744
and a 2.3% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is
9% below the national average.
Strengths:
Scottsbluff stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index. Whether Scottsbluff is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Scottsbluff 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: 91.1
Scottsbluff's overall cost of living index is 91.1,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Scottsbluff costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.
Metric
Scottsbluff, NE
National Avg
Median Home Value
$131,400
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$942
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
54.1%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$55,744
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Higher than Average
Scottsbluff's violent crime rate is 588.0 per 100,000 residents
— 55% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
588.0 /100k
Property Crime
2783.2 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Scottsbluff is served primarily by SCOTTSBLUFF PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.9:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Scottsbluff, NE
National Avg
School District
SCOTTSBLUFF PUBLIC SCHOOLS
—
Elementary Schools
5
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.9:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
27.6%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
88.5%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Scottsbluff sees average highs of 41.1°F in January
and 88.9°F in July,
with 15.6 inches of annual precipitation
and 39.7 inches of snow per year.
Scottsbluff's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Scottsbluff roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $131,400 and median rent is $942/month.
Scottsbluff's violent crime rate is 588.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2783.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Scottsbluff are operated by SCOTTSBLUFF PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The district has 5 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.9:1. 27.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Scottsbluff, NE has a population of 14,454, a median household income of $55,744, and an unemployment rate of 2.3%.
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.
Scottsbluff averages 41.1°F in January and 88.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 15.6 inches
with about 39.7 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Scottsbluff, NE is covered by 1 ZIP code: 69361.
The population of Scottsbluff, Nebraska is 14,454 with a median age of 35.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Scottsbluff: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $131,400, median household income $55,744, crime index 146 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Scottsbluff side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
