The Town FilesHoldrege, Nebraska
City in Phelps County · population 5,515 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $198,900
- Household income
- $55,789
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 25 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 32
- Median age
- 41.1
Holdrege is a city of 5,515 people in Phelps County, Nebraska. The median home is worth $198,900, above the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). It ranks hipper than 86% of Nebraska towns, more vibrant than 82% of Nebraska towns, better for retirees than 78% of Nebraska towns.
How Holdrege 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 Holdrege is worth $198,900, above the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $55,789, which is more affordable than 2% of Nebraska towns. Median rent is $835 a month. 62.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Holdrege | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $198,900 | $154,800 |
| Median rent | $835 | $818 |
| Median household income | $55,789 | $66,320 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 62.5% | 73.2% |
| Median year built | 1965 | 1963 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Holdrege
| People | Holdrege | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.1 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.8% | 20.8% |
| Under 18 | 21.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 30.1% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.6% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 8.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.6% | — |
| Work from home | 4.3% | 5.2% |
| Average commute | 13.4 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.7% | 87.8% |
Weather in Holdrege
July highs average 87.3°F and January lows 13.2°F. About 27.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 25.4 inches of snow (typical Nebraska town: 28.6 in). Expect about 32 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 154 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
32 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Holdrege since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Nebraska town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on October 29, 1956 about 5.4 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 5 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 23, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 131 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 17, 2022.
Severe weather in Phelps County since 1996
Phelps County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| July 24, 2014 | Severe Storm | DR-4183: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| August 12, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-4014: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Phelps County
Phelps County had 4,827 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,718 a year. Unemployment was 1.8% in 2023; in Holdrege itself the ACS puts it at 1.8%.
Public schools in Holdrege
4 public schools with 1,013 students, about 12.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| HOLDREGE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-4 | 353 | 12.2 |
| HOLDREGE HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 315 | 11.7 |
| HOLDREGE MIDDLE SCHOOL | 5-8 | 298 | 12.4 |
| HOLDREGE PUBLIC SCHOOLS EARLY CHILDHOOD ED CTR | PK-PK | 47 | 47.0 |
Towns near Holdrege
- Minden, NE21.9 mi · 3,118 people · home $208,500
- Kearney, NE23.8 mi · 33,790 people · home $244,600
Holdrege questions
Is Holdrege, Nebraska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Holdrege scores better for retirees than 78% of Nebraska towns and quieter than 37%. 21.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.1).
How much does a house cost in Holdrege?
The median owner-occupied home in Holdrege is valued at $198,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $55,789, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $835 a month.
What is the weather like in Holdrege?
July highs average 87.3°F and January lows 13.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 27.6 inches of precipitation a year and 25.4 inches of snow.
Does Holdrege get tornadoes?
32 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Holdrege since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on October 29, 1956. 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)