The Town FilesElm Creek, Nebraska
Village in Buffalo County · population 979 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $191,500
- Household income
- $79,148
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 23 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 29.8
Elm Creek is a village of 979 people in Buffalo County, Nebraska. The median home is worth $191,500, above the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). It ranks easier by car than 99% of Nebraska towns, more of a college town than 94% of Nebraska towns, better for families than 87% of Nebraska towns.
How Elm Creek 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 Elm Creek is worth $191,500, above the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $79,148, which is more affordable than 40% of Nebraska towns. Median rent is $761 a month. 71.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Elm Creek | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $191,500 | $154,800 |
| Median rent | $761 | $818 |
| Median household income | $79,148 | $66,320 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 71.4% | 73.2% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1963 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Elm Creek
| People | Elm Creek | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 29.8 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.0% | 20.8% |
| Under 18 | 31.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.6% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.9% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 7.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.2% | — |
| Work from home | 8.9% | 5.2% |
| Average commute | 22.8 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.8% | 87.8% |
Weather in Elm Creek
July highs average 86.4°F and January lows 15.2°F. About 23.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 23.2 inches of snow (typical Nebraska town: 28.6 in). Expect about 29 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 154 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elm Creek since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Nebraska town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on June 20, 2011 about 4.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on October 12, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 80 times; the largest was 5.00 inches on June 12, 2002.
Severe weather in Buffalo County since 1996
Buffalo County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 3, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4928: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| February 23, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4641: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| 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 Buffalo County
Buffalo County had 28,148 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,993 a year. Unemployment was 1.8% in 2023; in Elm Creek itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Elm Creek
2 public schools with 357 students, about 11.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELM CREEK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 202 | 12.6 |
| ELM CREEK HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 155 | 11.1 |
Towns near Elm Creek
- Overton, NE8.6 mi · 607 people · home $105,100
- Kearney, NE15.4 mi · 33,790 people · home $244,600
- Glenwood, NE15.6 mi · 503 people · home $337,900
- Bertrand, NE19.0 mi · 709 people · home $145,100
- Holdrege, NE19.4 mi · 5,515 people · home $198,900
- Lexington, NE19.8 mi · 10,348 people · home $159,100
- Axtell, NE21.0 mi · 732 people · home $205,100
- Minden, NE26.4 mi · 3,118 people · home $208,500
Elm Creek questions
Is Elm Creek, Nebraska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Elm Creek scores better for retirees than 17% of Nebraska towns and quieter than 23%. 11.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 29.8).
How much does a house cost in Elm Creek?
The median owner-occupied home in Elm Creek is valued at $191,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $79,148, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $761 a month.
What is the weather like in Elm Creek?
July highs average 86.4°F and January lows 15.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 23.4 inches of precipitation a year and 23.2 inches of snow.
Does Elm Creek get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elm Creek since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on June 20, 2011. 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)