The Town FilesFort Calhoun, Nebraska
City in Washington County · population 1,108 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $291,000
- Household income
- $102,396
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 30 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 46.7
Fort Calhoun is a city of 1,108 people in Washington County, Nebraska. The median home is worth $291,000, above the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). It ranks more upscale than 95% of Nebraska towns, better for retirees than 84% of Nebraska towns, quieter than 77% of Nebraska towns.
How Fort Calhoun 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 Fort Calhoun is worth $291,000, above the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $102,396, which is more affordable than 22% of Nebraska towns. Median rent is $1,141 a month. 66.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Fort Calhoun | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $291,000 | $154,800 |
| Median rent | $1,141 | $818 |
| Median household income | $102,396 | $66,320 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 66.7% | 73.2% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1963 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Fort Calhoun
| People | Fort Calhoun | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.7 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.1% | 20.8% |
| Under 18 | 21.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.2% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.9% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 9.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.4% | — |
| Work from home | 12.0% | 5.2% |
| Average commute | 22.1 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.2% | 87.8% |
Weather in Fort Calhoun
July highs average 83.5°F and January lows 12.8°F. About 33.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 30.0 inches of snow (typical Nebraska town: 28.6 in). Expect about 18 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 140 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fort Calhoun since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Nebraska town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on April 26, 2024 about 8.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 17, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 114 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on June 3, 2014.
Severe weather in Washington County since 1996
Washington County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 22, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4896: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| May 21, 2025 | Winter Storm | DR-4868: Severe Winter Storm And Straight-Line Winds |
| September 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4822: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| August 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4808: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| May 3, 2024 | Tornado | DR-4778: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
Jobs and pay in Washington County
Washington County had 8,544 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $61,749 a year. Unemployment was 2.1% in 2023; in Fort Calhoun itself the ACS puts it at 2.1%.
Public schools in Fort Calhoun
2 public schools with 848 students, about 17.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| FORT CALHOUN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 465 | 17.9 |
| FORT CALHOUN JR-SR HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 383 | 16.0 |
Towns near Fort Calhoun
- Blair, NE8.1 mi · 7,790 people · home $221,500
- Bennington, NE9.3 mi · 2,026 people · home $333,100
- Missouri Valley, IA9.6 mi · 2,678 people · home $148,500
- Crescent, IA10.7 mi · 628 people · home $283,900
- Carter Lake, IA12.9 mi · 3,791 people · home $169,400
- Omaha, NE13.5 mi · 486,051 people · home $245,500
- Arlington, NE17.1 mi · 1,300 people · home $225,400
- Council Bluffs, IA17.7 mi · 62,799 people · home $171,800
Fort Calhoun questions
Is Fort Calhoun, Nebraska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Fort Calhoun scores better for retirees than 84% of Nebraska towns and quieter than 77%. 23.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.7).
How much does a house cost in Fort Calhoun?
The median owner-occupied home in Fort Calhoun is valued at $291,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $102,396, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $1,141 a month.
What is the weather like in Fort Calhoun?
July highs average 83.5°F and January lows 12.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.4 inches of precipitation a year and 30.0 inches of snow.
Does Fort Calhoun get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fort Calhoun since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on April 26, 2024. 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)