The Town FilesBeatrice, Nebraska
City in Gage County · population 12,261 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $159,300
- Household income
- $57,264
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 19 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 41.9
Beatrice is a city of 12,261 people in Gage County, Nebraska. The median home is worth $159,300, close to the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). It ranks more walkable than 95% of Nebraska towns, more vibrant than 89% of Nebraska towns, hipper than 82% of Nebraska towns.
How Beatrice 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 Beatrice is worth $159,300, close to the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $57,264, which is more affordable than 22% of Nebraska towns. Median rent is $758 a month. 65.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Beatrice | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $159,300 | $154,800 |
| Median rent | $758 | $818 |
| Median household income | $57,264 | $66,320 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 65.3% | 73.2% |
| Median year built | 1962 | 1963 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.6% | — |
Who lives in Beatrice
| People | Beatrice | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.9 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.4% | 20.8% |
| Under 18 | 22.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.3% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.4% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 7.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.5% | — |
| Work from home | 2.9% | 5.2% |
| Average commute | 15.6 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.3% | 87.8% |
Weather in Beatrice
July highs average 88.4°F and January lows 13.5°F. About 31.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 18.8 inches of snow (typical Nebraska town: 28.6 in). Expect about 40 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 145 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Beatrice since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Nebraska town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 26, 1991 about 2.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 6, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 81 times; the largest was 5.00 inches on June 11, 2022.
Severe weather in Gage County since 1996
Gage County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 3, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4928: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| February 23, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4641: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| 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 Gage County
Gage County had 8,677 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,917 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Beatrice itself the ACS puts it at 1.7%.
Public schools in Beatrice
7 public schools with 2,119 students, about 16.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| BEATRICE HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 662 | 18.4 |
| BEATRICE MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 440 | 13.8 |
| PADDOCK LANE SCHOOL | PK-5 | 398 | 13.3 |
| BEATRICE COMMUNITY PRESCHOOL | PK-PK | 219 | 24.3 |
| STODDARD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | 3-5 | 207 | 15.9 |
| LINCOLN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-2 | 193 | 16.1 |
| EDUCATIONAL SERVICE UNIT 5 | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Beatrice
- Fairbury, NE24.4 mi · 3,970 people · home $101,700
- Hickman, NE25.1 mi · 2,607 people · home $311,700
- Crete, NE26.6 mi · 7,099 people · home $223,500
Beatrice questions
Is Beatrice, Nebraska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Beatrice scores better for retirees than 26% of Nebraska towns and quieter than 18%. 21.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.9).
How much does a house cost in Beatrice?
The median owner-occupied home in Beatrice is valued at $159,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $57,264, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $758 a month.
What is the weather like in Beatrice?
July highs average 88.4°F and January lows 13.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 31.3 inches of precipitation a year and 18.8 inches of snow.
Does Beatrice get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Beatrice since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 26, 1991. 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)