The Town FilesBertrand, Nebraska
Village in Phelps County · population 709 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $145,100
- Household income
- $73,672
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 18 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 41.0
Bertrand is a village of 709 people in Phelps County, Nebraska. The median home is worth $145,100, below the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). It ranks better for families than 91% of Nebraska towns, easier by car than 71% of Nebraska towns.
How Bertrand 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 Bertrand is worth $145,100, below the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $73,672, which is more affordable than 68% of Nebraska towns. Median rent is $850 a month. 89.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bertrand | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $145,100 | $154,800 |
| Median rent | $850 | $818 |
| Median household income | $73,672 | $66,320 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 89.2% | 73.2% |
| Median year built | 1959 | 1963 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Bertrand
| People | Bertrand | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.0 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.9% | 20.8% |
| Under 18 | 26.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.9% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.5% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 8.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.2% | — |
| Work from home | 10.1% | 5.2% |
| Average commute | 13.4 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.0% | 87.8% |
Weather in Bertrand
July highs average 86.4°F and January lows 15.2°F. About 23.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 17.5 inches of snow (typical Nebraska town: 28.6 in). Expect about 29 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 154 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bertrand since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Nebraska town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on October 29, 1956 about 7.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on October 12, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 53 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on July 27, 1967.
Severe weather in Phelps County since 1996
Phelps County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| July 24, 2014 | Severe Storm | DR-4183: 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 Phelps County
Phelps County had 4,827 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,718 a year. Unemployment was 1.8% in 2023; in Bertrand itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Bertrand
2 public schools with 241 students, about 11.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| BERTRAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 127 | 11.5 |
| BERTRAND HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 114 | 10.4 |
Towns near Bertrand
- Elwood, NE12.8 mi · 658 people · home $183,300
- Holdrege, NE14.7 mi · 5,515 people · home $198,900
- Overton, NE15.6 mi · 607 people · home $105,100
- Lexington, NE18.4 mi · 10,348 people · home $159,100
- Oxford, NE18.9 mi · 718 people · home $92,900
- Elm Creek, NE19.0 mi · 979 people · home $191,500
- Arapahoe, NE20.7 mi · 1,002 people · home $97,400
- Axtell, NE26.6 mi · 732 people · home $205,100
Bertrand questions
Is Bertrand, Nebraska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bertrand scores better for retirees than 35% of Nebraska towns and quieter than 54%. 21.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.0).
How much does a house cost in Bertrand?
The median owner-occupied home in Bertrand is valued at $145,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $73,672, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $850 a month.
What is the weather like in Bertrand?
July highs average 86.4°F and January lows 15.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 23.4 inches of precipitation a year and 17.5 inches of snow.
Does Bertrand get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bertrand since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on October 29, 1956. 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)