The Town FilesEmerson, Nebraska
Village in Dixon County · population 840 (2020 Census) · spans 3 counties
- Median home
- $116,400
- Household income
- $57,292
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 31 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 44.0
Emerson is a village of 840 people in Dixon County, Nebraska. The median home is worth $116,400, below the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). It ranks better transit than 71% of Nebraska towns.
How Emerson 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 Emerson is worth $116,400, below the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $57,292, which is more affordable than 68% of Nebraska towns. Median rent is $703 a month. 69.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Emerson | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $116,400 | $154,800 |
| Median rent | $703 | $818 |
| Median household income | $57,292 | $66,320 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 69.5% | 73.2% |
| Median year built | 1949 | 1963 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Emerson
| People | Emerson | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.0 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.6% | 20.8% |
| Under 18 | 21.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11.2% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.0% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 4.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.3% | — |
| Work from home | 6.9% | 5.2% |
| Average commute | 23.0 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.7% | 87.8% |
Weather in Emerson
July highs average 86.3°F and January lows 9.5°F. About 30.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 30.6 inches of snow (typical Nebraska town: 28.6 in). Expect about 27 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 157 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Emerson since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Nebraska town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on June 16, 2014 about 5.1 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 0 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 16, 2014.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 35 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on August 20, 1977.
Severe weather in Dixon County since 1996
Dixon County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| 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 |
| August 27, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4387: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Dixon County
Dixon County had 1,859 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,764 a year. Unemployment was 2% in 2023; in Emerson itself the ACS puts it at 5%.
Public schools in Emerson
3 public schools with 223 students, about 9.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| EMERSON-HUBBARD ELEMENTARY SCH | PK-5 | 101 | 10.1 |
| EMERSON-HUBBARD HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 72 | 9.0 |
| EMERSON-HUBBARD MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 50 | 10.0 |
Towns near Emerson
- Wakefield, NE7.0 mi · 1,522 people · home $116,500
- Pender, NE11.6 mi · 1,115 people · home $175,000
- Homer, NE12.4 mi · 532 people · home $162,900
- Winnebago, NE13.3 mi · 916 people · home $66,600
- Wayne, NE14.7 mi · 5,973 people · home $228,900
- Walthill, NE14.9 mi · 682 people · home $39,400
- Dakota City, NE18.4 mi · 2,081 people · home $177,800
- Dakota Dunes, SD19.2 mi · 4,020 people · home $565,600
Emerson questions
Is Emerson, Nebraska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Emerson scores better for retirees than 28% of Nebraska towns and quieter than 48%. 22.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.0).
How much does a house cost in Emerson?
The median owner-occupied home in Emerson is valued at $116,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $57,292, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $703 a month.
What is the weather like in Emerson?
July highs average 86.3°F and January lows 9.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 30.7 inches of precipitation a year and 30.6 inches of snow.
Does Emerson get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Emerson since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on June 16, 2014. 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)