The Town FilesAtkinson, Nebraska
City in Holt County · population 1,306 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $174,200
- Household income
- $79,375
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 33 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 39.7
Atkinson is a city of 1,306 people in Holt County, Nebraska. The median home is worth $174,200, above the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). It ranks better for retirees than 100% of Nebraska towns, better for young professionals than 88% of Nebraska towns, more upscale than 84% of Nebraska towns.
How Atkinson 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 Atkinson is worth $174,200, above the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $79,375, which is more affordable than 54% of Nebraska towns. Median rent is $655 a month. 73.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Atkinson | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $174,200 | $154,800 |
| Median rent | $655 | $818 |
| Median household income | $79,375 | $66,320 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 73.4% | 73.2% |
| Median year built | 1969 | 1963 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.1% | — |
Who lives in Atkinson
| People | Atkinson | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.7 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.3% | 20.8% |
| Under 18 | 28.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 34.7% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.8% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 4.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.4% | — |
| Work from home | 2.7% | 5.2% |
| Average commute | 12.5 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.2% | 87.8% |
Weather in Atkinson
July highs average 86.0°F and January lows 10.2°F. About 24.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 33.3 inches of snow (typical Nebraska town: 28.6 in). Expect about 31 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 152 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Atkinson since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Nebraska town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 9, 2003 about 8.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 10, 2016.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 88 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on May 30, 2011.
Severe weather in Holt County since 1996
Holt County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4822: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Holt County
Holt County had 4,403 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,877 a year. Unemployment was 1.8% in 2023; in Atkinson itself the ACS puts it at 1.5%.
Public schools in Atkinson
3 public schools with 432 students, about 10.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| WEST HOLT HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 203 | 10.2 |
| ATKINSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 199 | 10.5 |
| WEST HOLT LITTLE PAWS PRESCHOOL | PK-PK | 30 | 15.0 |
Towns near Atkinson
- O'Neill, NE17.4 mi · 3,581 people · home $153,300
- Bassett, NE28.8 mi · 538 people · home $86,800
Atkinson questions
Is Atkinson, Nebraska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Atkinson scores better for retirees than 100% of Nebraska towns and quieter than 44%. 24.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.7).
How much does a house cost in Atkinson?
The median owner-occupied home in Atkinson is valued at $174,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $79,375, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $655 a month.
What is the weather like in Atkinson?
July highs average 86.0°F and January lows 10.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 24.9 inches of precipitation a year and 33.3 inches of snow.
Does Atkinson get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Atkinson since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 9, 2003. 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)