The Town FilesArnold, Nebraska
Village in Custer County · population 592 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $146,700
- Household income
- $64,688
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 31 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 27
- Median age
- 35.8
Arnold is a village of 592 people in Custer County, Nebraska. The median home is worth $146,700, below the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). It ranks better for retirees than 97% of Nebraska towns, better for first-time buyers than 91% of Nebraska towns, better for young professionals than 80% of Nebraska towns.
How Arnold ranks
Percentile among Nebraska towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Nebraska towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Arnold is worth $146,700, below the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $64,688, which is more affordable than 46% of Nebraska towns. Median rent is $946 a month. 72.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Arnold | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $146,700 | $154,800 |
| Median rent | $946 | $818 |
| Median household income | $64,688 | $66,320 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 72.9% | 73.2% |
| Median year built | 1957 | 1963 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in Arnold
| People | Arnold | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.8 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.8% | 20.8% |
| Under 18 | 30.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.1% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.0% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 6.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 6.5% | 5.2% |
| Average commute | 23.2 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.3% | 87.8% |
Weather in Arnold
July highs average 84.9°F and January lows 12.7°F. About 23.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 30.8 inches of snow (typical Nebraska town: 28.6 in). Expect about 29 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 171 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Arnold since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Nebraska town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 18, 1975 about 2.4 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 5 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 6, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 80 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on July 14, 1985.
Severe weather in Custer County since 1996
Custer County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 27, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4662: Severe Storms And Straight-Line Winds |
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4521: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3483: Covid-19 |
| March 21, 2019 | Flood | DR-4420: Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| June 29, 2018 | Snowstorm | DR-4375: Severe Winter Storm And Straight-Line Winds |
Jobs and pay in Custer County
Custer County had 4,537 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,959 a year. Unemployment was 1.7% in 2023; in Arnold itself the ACS puts it at 1.6%.
Public schools in Arnold
2 public schools with 196 students, about 10.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| ARNOLD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 116 | 10.5 |
| ARNOLD HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 80 | 11.4 |
Towns near Arnold
- Callaway, NE16.8 mi · 563 people · home $149,100
- Broken Bow, NE28.7 mi · 3,506 people · home $133,200
Arnold questions
Is Arnold, Nebraska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Arnold scores better for retirees than 97% of Nebraska towns and quieter than 59%. 16.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.8).
How much does a house cost in Arnold?
The median owner-occupied home in Arnold is valued at $146,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $64,688, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $946 a month.
What is the weather like in Arnold?
July highs average 84.9°F and January lows 12.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 23.5 inches of precipitation a year and 30.8 inches of snow.
Does Arnold get tornadoes?
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Arnold since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on June 18, 1975. The typical Nebraska town has had 23.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)