The Town FilesElgin, Nebraska
City in Antelope County · population 717 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $110,600
- Household income
- $59,583
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 30 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 35.3
Elgin is a city of 717 people in Antelope County, Nebraska. The median home is worth $110,600, below the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). It ranks better for cycling than 89% of Nebraska towns, quieter than 86% of Nebraska towns, hipper than 82% of Nebraska towns.
How Elgin 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 Elgin is worth $110,600, below the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). Homes cost about 1.9 times the median household income of $59,583, which is more affordable than 76% of Nebraska towns. Median rent is $656 a month. 78.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Elgin | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $110,600 | $154,800 |
| Median rent | $656 | $818 |
| Median household income | $59,583 | $66,320 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.9× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 78.4% | 73.2% |
| Median year built | 1962 | 1963 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.2% | — |
Who lives in Elgin
| People | Elgin | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.3 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.5% | 20.8% |
| Under 18 | 27.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.0% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.2% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 9.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.3% | — |
| Work from home | 3.0% | 5.2% |
| Average commute | 22.1 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.6% | 87.8% |
Weather in Elgin
July highs average 83.7°F and January lows 12.4°F. About 27.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 29.7 inches of snow (typical Nebraska town: 28.6 in). Expect about 17 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 153 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elgin since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Nebraska town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 8, 1965 about 4.4 miles from the town center and killed 4. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 53 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 6, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 75 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on April 14, 2012.
Severe weather in Antelope County since 1996
Antelope County has been included in 13 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 Antelope County
Antelope County had 2,194 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,726 a year. Unemployment was 1.9% in 2023; in Elgin itself the ACS puts it at 3.6%.
Public schools in Elgin
2 public schools with 200 students, about 10.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELGIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 115 | 11.5 |
| ELGIN HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 85 | 9.4 |
Towns near Elgin
- Neligh, NE10.5 mi · 1,536 people · home $150,600
- Tilden, NE13.5 mi · 992 people · home $156,500
- Albion, NE20.8 mi · 1,699 people · home $219,000
- Newman Grove, NE22.7 mi · 667 people · home $100,000
- Battle Creek, NE24.8 mi · 1,194 people · home $194,300
- Plainview, NE29.7 mi · 1,282 people · home $96,000
Elgin questions
Is Elgin, Nebraska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Elgin scores better for retirees than 70% of Nebraska towns and quieter than 86%. 26.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.3).
How much does a house cost in Elgin?
The median owner-occupied home in Elgin is valued at $110,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $59,583, so homes cost about 1.9 times income. Median rent is $656 a month.
What is the weather like in Elgin?
July highs average 83.7°F and January lows 12.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 27.9 inches of precipitation a year and 29.7 inches of snow.
Does Elgin get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elgin since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 8, 1965. 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)