The Town FilesHarvard, Nebraska
City in Clay County · population 951 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $102,100
- Household income
- $66,000
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 19 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 24
- Median age
- 36.0
Harvard is a city of 951 people in Clay County, Nebraska. The median home is worth $102,100, below the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). It ranks better for cycling than 93% of Nebraska towns, easier by car than 81% of Nebraska towns, more upscale than 74% of Nebraska towns.
How Harvard 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 Harvard is worth $102,100, below the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). Homes cost about 1.5 times the median household income of $66,000, which is more affordable than 92% of Nebraska towns. Median rent is $708 a month. 74.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Harvard | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $102,100 | $154,800 |
| Median rent | $708 | $818 |
| Median household income | $66,000 | $66,320 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.5× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 74.4% | 73.2% |
| Median year built | 1956 | 1963 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Harvard
| People | Harvard | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.0 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.7% | 20.8% |
| Under 18 | 25.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.1% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.3% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 5.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.9% | — |
| Work from home | 2.5% | 5.2% |
| Average commute | 21.7 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.6% | 87.8% |
Weather in Harvard
July highs average 87.2°F and January lows 16.1°F. About 29.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 18.5 inches of snow (typical Nebraska town: 28.6 in). Expect about 34 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 145 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Harvard since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Nebraska town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on May 5, 1964 about 9.2 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 23 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on December 15, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 91 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on July 28, 2023.
Severe weather in Clay County since 1996
Clay County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| September 6, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4616: Severe Storms And Straight-Line Winds |
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4521: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3483: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Clay County
Clay County had 2,077 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,771 a year. Unemployment was 2.4% in 2023; in Harvard itself the ACS puts it at 3.1%.
Public schools in Harvard
3 public schools with 208 students, about 8.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| HARVARD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 103 | 9.4 |
| HARVARD HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 60 | 6.7 |
| HARVARD MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 45 | 11.3 |
Towns near Harvard
- Clay Center, NE6.9 mi · 735 people · home $141,300
- Sutton, NE12.6 mi · 1,447 people · home $155,600
- Hastings, NE15.5 mi · 25,152 people · home $184,700
- Aurora, NE17.5 mi · 4,678 people · home $233,900
- Doniphan, NE17.9 mi · 809 people · home $211,100
- Henderson, NE18.5 mi · 1,080 people · home $154,800
- Juniata, NE21.7 mi · 748 people · home $143,300
- Grand Island, NE24.9 mi · 53,131 people · home $218,600
Harvard questions
Is Harvard, Nebraska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Harvard scores better for retirees than 50% of Nebraska towns and quieter than 68%. 17.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.0).
How much does a house cost in Harvard?
The median owner-occupied home in Harvard is valued at $102,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $66,000, so homes cost about 1.5 times income. Median rent is $708 a month.
What is the weather like in Harvard?
July highs average 87.2°F and January lows 16.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 29.8 inches of precipitation a year and 18.5 inches of snow.
Does Harvard get tornadoes?
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Harvard 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)