Valentine is a small town of 2,621 in Nebraska, with a median household income of $51,131
.
Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is
10% below the national average.
Strengths:
Valentine 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 Valentine is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Valentine 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: 89.9
Valentine's overall cost of living index is 89.9,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Valentine costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.
Metric
Valentine, NE
National Avg
Median Home Value
$124,700
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$838
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
54.2%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$51,131
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Valentine's violent crime rate is 228.0 per 100,000 residents
— 40% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
228.0 /100k
Property Crime
873.9 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Valentine is served primarily by VALENTINE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.6:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Valentine, NE
National Avg
School District
VALENTINE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS
—
Elementary Schools
3
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
9.6:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
28.5%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
98.8%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Valentine sees average highs of 35.8°F in January
and 89.1°F in July,
with 20.8 inches of annual precipitation
and 28.7 inches of snow per year.
Valentine's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Valentine roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $124,700 and median rent is $838/month.
Valentine's violent crime rate is 228.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 873.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Valentine are operated by VALENTINE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS.
The district has 3 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.6:1. 28.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Valentine, NE has a population of 2,621, a median household income of $51,131, and an unemployment rate of 0.0%.
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.
Valentine averages 35.8°F in January and 89.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 20.8 inches
with about 28.7 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Valentine, NE is covered by 1 ZIP code: 69201.
The population of Valentine, Nebraska is 2,621 with a median age of 36.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Valentine: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $124,700, median household income $51,131, crime index 53 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Valentine side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
