The Town FilesDavid City, Nebraska
City in Butler County · population 2,995 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $165,200
- Household income
- $65,573
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 32 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 26
- Median age
- 35.9
David City is a city of 2,995 people in Butler County, Nebraska. The median home is worth $165,200, above the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). It ranks better for retirees than 96% of Nebraska towns, hipper than 96% of Nebraska towns, better for young professionals than 89% of Nebraska towns.
How David City 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 David City is worth $165,200, above the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $65,573, which is more affordable than 36% of Nebraska towns. Median rent is $767 a month. 66.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | David City | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $165,200 | $154,800 |
| Median rent | $767 | $818 |
| Median household income | $65,573 | $66,320 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 66.9% | 73.2% |
| Median year built | 1970 | 1963 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in David City
| People | David City | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.9 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.8% | 20.8% |
| Under 18 | 24.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.7% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.1% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 6.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.3% | — |
| Work from home | 6.2% | 5.2% |
| Average commute | 19.3 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.9% | 87.8% |
Weather in David City
July highs average 85.9°F and January lows 11.7°F. About 30.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 31.8 inches of snow (typical Nebraska town: 28.6 in). Expect about 27 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 147 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of David City since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Nebraska town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on May 5, 1964 about 10.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 21, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 75 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on May 1, 2018.
Severe weather in Butler County since 1996
Butler County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 21, 2025 | Winter Storm | DR-4868: Severe Winter Storm And Straight-Line Winds |
| 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 |
| March 21, 2019 | Flood | DR-4420: Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Butler County
Butler County had 2,629 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,326 a year. Unemployment was 1.7% in 2023; in David City itself the ACS puts it at 0.1%.
Public schools in David City
2 public schools with 608 students, about 11.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAVID CITY SECONDARY SCHOOL | 7-12 | 316 | 12.2 |
| DAVID CITY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 292 | 11.7 |
Towns near David City
- Schuyler, NE14.0 mi · 6,547 people · home $145,700
- Columbus, NE17.5 mi · 24,028 people · home $213,600
- Seward, NE23.8 mi · 7,643 people · home $244,600
- Wahoo, NE26.5 mi · 4,818 people · home $243,600
David City questions
Is David City, Nebraska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, David City scores better for retirees than 96% of Nebraska towns and quieter than 25%. 18.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.9).
How much does a house cost in David City?
The median owner-occupied home in David City is valued at $165,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $65,573, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $767 a month.
What is the weather like in David City?
July highs average 85.9°F and January lows 11.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 30.4 inches of precipitation a year and 31.8 inches of snow.
Does David City get tornadoes?
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of David City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on May 5, 1964. 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)