The Town FilesChappell, Nebraska
City in Deuel County · population 844 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $94,000
- Household income
- $65,000
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 29 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 46.5
Chappell is a city of 844 people in Deuel County, Nebraska. The median home is worth $94,000, below the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). It ranks quieter than 99% of Nebraska towns, easier by car than 80% of Nebraska towns, better for first-time buyers than 75% of Nebraska towns.
How Chappell 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 Chappell is worth $94,000, below the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). Homes cost about 1.4 times the median household income of $65,000, which is more affordable than 96% of Nebraska towns. Median rent is $775 a month. 82.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Chappell | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $94,000 | $154,800 |
| Median rent | $775 | $818 |
| Median household income | $65,000 | $66,320 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.4× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 82.9% | 73.2% |
| Median year built | 1945 | 1963 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.5% | — |
Who lives in Chappell
| People | Chappell | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.5 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.6% | 20.8% |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.5% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.6% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 8.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.5% | — |
| Work from home | 6.5% | 5.2% |
| Average commute | 28.1 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.9% | 87.8% |
Weather in Chappell
July highs average 87.4°F and January lows 13.4°F. About 19.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 29.0 inches of snow (typical Nebraska town: 28.6 in). Expect about 41 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 168 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chappell since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Nebraska town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 27, 1960 about 0.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 7, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 100 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 24, 1979.
Severe weather in Deuel County since 1996
Deuel County has been included in 9 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 |
| June 29, 2018 | Snowstorm | DR-4375: Severe Winter Storm And Straight-Line Winds |
| July 31, 2009 | Severe Storm | DR-1853: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
Jobs and pay in Deuel County
Deuel County had 560 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $39,592 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Chappell itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Chappell
3 public schools with 185 students, about 8.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| CREEK VALLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 120 | 13.3 |
| CREEK VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 65 | 5.9 |
| CREEK VALLEY EARLY LEARNING CENTER | PK-PK | — | — |
Towns near Chappell
- Julesburg, CO13.1 mi · 1,307 people · home $149,400
- Oshkosh, NE22.8 mi · 809 people · home $85,800
- Sidney, NE26.2 mi · 6,410 people · home $139,400
Chappell questions
Is Chappell, Nebraska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Chappell scores better for retirees than 70% of Nebraska towns and quieter than 99%. 26.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.5).
How much does a house cost in Chappell?
The median owner-occupied home in Chappell is valued at $94,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $65,000, so homes cost about 1.4 times income. Median rent is $775 a month.
What is the weather like in Chappell?
July highs average 87.4°F and January lows 13.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 19.0 inches of precipitation a year and 29.0 inches of snow.
Does Chappell get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chappell since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 27, 1960. 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)