The Town FilesBenkelman, Nebraska
City in Dundy County · population 821 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $114,500
- Household income
- $42,188
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 28 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 44.1
Benkelman is a city of 821 people in Dundy County, Nebraska. The median home is worth $114,500, below the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 93% of Nebraska towns, better transit than 89% of Nebraska towns, better for young professionals than 87% of Nebraska towns.
How Benkelman 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 Benkelman is worth $114,500, below the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $42,188, which is more affordable than 28% of Nebraska towns. Median rent is $700 a month. 72.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Benkelman | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $114,500 | $154,800 |
| Median rent | $700 | $818 |
| Median household income | $42,188 | $66,320 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 72.9% | 73.2% |
| Median year built | 1945 | 1963 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.3% | — |
Who lives in Benkelman
| People | Benkelman | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.1 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.1% | 20.8% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.9% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 19.0% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 3.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.2% | — |
| Work from home | 7.8% | 5.2% |
| Average commute | 8.3 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.0% | 87.8% |
Weather in Benkelman
July highs average 91.4°F and January lows 15.9°F. About 19.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 27.6 inches of snow (typical Nebraska town: 28.6 in). Expect about 63 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 160 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Benkelman since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Nebraska town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on May 26, 2021 about 7.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 24, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 109 times; the largest was 4.25 inches on May 27, 2015.
Severe weather in Dundy County since 1996
Dundy County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4808: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4521: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3483: Covid-19 |
| June 25, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4225: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| August 12, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-4014: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Dundy County
Dundy County had 590 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,438 a year. Unemployment was 1.7% in 2023; in Benkelman itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Benkelman
2 public schools with 273 students, about 9.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| BENKELMAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 148 | 11.4 |
| DUNDY CO STRATTON HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 125 | 7.8 |
Towns near Benkelman
- St. Francis, KS23.5 mi · 1,263 people · home $108,200
- Wauneta, NE27.0 mi · 549 people · home $88,100
- Trenton, NE29.2 mi · 516 people · home $69,200
Benkelman questions
Is Benkelman, Nebraska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Benkelman scores better for retirees than 52% of Nebraska towns and quieter than 56%. 26.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.1).
How much does a house cost in Benkelman?
The median owner-occupied home in Benkelman is valued at $114,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $42,188, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $700 a month.
What is the weather like in Benkelman?
July highs average 91.4°F and January lows 15.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 19.7 inches of precipitation a year and 27.6 inches of snow.
Does Benkelman get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Benkelman since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on May 26, 2021. 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)