The Town FilesBurwell, Nebraska
City in Garfield County · population 1,087 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $164,400
- Household income
- $51,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 29 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 24
- Median age
- 48.9
Burwell is a city of 1,087 people in Garfield County, Nebraska. The median home is worth $164,400, above the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). It ranks better for retirees than 100% of Nebraska towns, better for a vacation home than 99% of Nebraska towns, quieter than 92% of Nebraska towns.
How Burwell 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 Burwell is worth $164,400, above the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $51,250, which is more affordable than 8% of Nebraska towns. Median rent is $460 a month. 75.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Burwell | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $164,400 | $154,800 |
| Median rent | $460 | $818 |
| Median household income | $51,250 | $66,320 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 75.3% | 73.2% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1963 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 12.1% | — |
Who lives in Burwell
| People | Burwell | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.9 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 30.2% | 20.8% |
| Under 18 | 18.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.5% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.0% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 11.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 2.2% | 5.2% |
| Average commute | 14.9 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.4% | 87.8% |
Weather in Burwell
July highs average 86.2°F and January lows 12.2°F. About 25.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 29.2 inches of snow (typical Nebraska town: 28.6 in). Expect about 28 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 162 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Burwell since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Nebraska town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 3, 1999 about 10.0 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 2 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 23, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 126 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on July 24, 2002.
Severe weather in Garfield County since 1996
Garfield County has been included in 14 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 Garfield County
Garfield County had 772 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $42,179 a year. Unemployment was 2% in 2023; in Burwell itself the ACS puts it at 2.6%.
Public schools in Burwell
2 public schools with 292 students, about 11.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| BURWELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 168 | 14.0 |
| BURWELL JR-SR HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 124 | 8.9 |
Towns near Burwell
- Sargent, NE15.5 mi · 500 people · home $57,900
- Ord, NE16.5 mi · 2,113 people · home $119,800
Burwell questions
Is Burwell, Nebraska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Burwell scores better for retirees than 100% of Nebraska towns and quieter than 92%. 30.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.9).
How much does a house cost in Burwell?
The median owner-occupied home in Burwell is valued at $164,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $51,250, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $460 a month.
What is the weather like in Burwell?
July highs average 86.2°F and January lows 12.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 25.9 inches of precipitation a year and 29.2 inches of snow.
Does Burwell get tornadoes?
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Burwell since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 3, 1999. 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)