The Town FilesCallaway, Nebraska
Village in Custer County · population 563 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $149,100
- Household income
- $51,146
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 31 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 40.4
Callaway is a village of 563 people in Custer County, Nebraska. The median home is worth $149,100, close to the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). It ranks better for retirees than 97% of Nebraska towns, better for first-time buyers than 91% of Nebraska towns, better for young professionals than 80% of Nebraska towns.
How Callaway 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 Callaway is worth $149,100, close to the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $51,146, which is more affordable than 16% of Nebraska towns. Median rent is $631 a month. 66.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Callaway | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $149,100 | $154,800 |
| Median rent | $631 | $818 |
| Median household income | $51,146 | $66,320 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 66.0% | 73.2% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1963 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.3% | — |
Who lives in Callaway
| People | Callaway | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.4 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.0% | 20.8% |
| Under 18 | 24.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.9% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.7% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 6.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 0.0% | 5.2% |
| Average commute | 12.2 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.8% | 87.8% |
Weather in Callaway
July highs average 86.9°F and January lows 13.9°F. About 24.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 30.9 inches of snow (typical Nebraska town: 28.6 in). Expect about 32 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 156 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Callaway since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Nebraska town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 1, 1990 about 4.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 29, 2004.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 84 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on August 6, 1986.
Severe weather in Custer County since 1996
Custer County has been included in 20 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 Custer County
Custer County had 4,537 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,959 a year. Unemployment was 1.7% in 2023; in Callaway itself the ACS puts it at 1.5%.
Public schools in Callaway
2 public schools with 180 students, about 8.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| CALLAWAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 97 | 8.8 |
| CALLAWAY HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 83 | 7.5 |
Towns near Callaway
- Broken Bow, NE16.5 mi · 3,506 people · home $133,200
- Arnold, NE16.8 mi · 592 people · home $146,700
- Gothenburg, NE28.1 mi · 3,478 people · home $191,000
- Cozad, NE29.9 mi · 3,988 people · home $121,600
Callaway questions
Is Callaway, Nebraska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Callaway scores better for retirees than 97% of Nebraska towns and quieter than 59%. 26.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.4).
How much does a house cost in Callaway?
The median owner-occupied home in Callaway is valued at $149,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $51,146, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $631 a month.
What is the weather like in Callaway?
July highs average 86.9°F and January lows 13.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 24.7 inches of precipitation a year and 30.9 inches of snow.
Does Callaway get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Callaway since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 1, 1990. 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)