The Town FilesHomer, Nebraska
Village in Dakota County · population 532 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $162,900
- Household income
- $80,714
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 36 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 39.5
Homer is a village of 532 people in Dakota County, Nebraska. The median home is worth $162,900, above the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). It ranks quieter than 73% of Nebraska towns, better for families than 71% of Nebraska towns.
How Homer 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 Homer is worth $162,900, above the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $80,714, which is more affordable than 68% of Nebraska towns. Median rent is $677 a month. 80.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Homer | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $162,900 | $154,800 |
| Median rent | $677 | $818 |
| Median household income | $80,714 | $66,320 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 80.6% | 73.2% |
| Median year built | 1966 | 1963 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Homer
| People | Homer | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.5 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.2% | 20.8% |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.2% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.9% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 1.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.0% | — |
| Work from home | 2.0% | 5.2% |
| Average commute | 19.1 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.9% | 87.8% |
Weather in Homer
July highs average 85.0°F and January lows 10.4°F. About 29.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 36.0 inches of snow (typical Nebraska town: 28.6 in). Expect about 25 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 154 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Homer since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Nebraska town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on July 28, 1986 about 8.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 75 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on August 18, 2011.
Severe weather in Dakota County since 1996
Dakota County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| 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 |
| 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 Dakota County
Dakota County had 13,726 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,490 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Homer itself the ACS puts it at 9.4%.
Public schools in Homer
2 public schools with 444 students, about 13.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| HOMER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 253 | 14.1 |
| HOMER HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 191 | 11.9 |
Towns near Homer
- Winnebago, NE5.9 mi · 916 people · home $66,600
- Dakota City, NE7.5 mi · 2,081 people · home $177,800
- Sergeant Bluff, IA8.8 mi · 5,015 people · home $298,500
- South Sioux City, NE10.4 mi · 14,043 people · home $174,700
- Dakota Dunes, SD11.6 mi · 4,020 people · home $565,600
- Walthill, NE12.0 mi · 682 people · home $39,400
- Emerson, NE12.4 mi · 840 people · home $116,400
- Sioux City, IA13.0 mi · 85,797 people · home $173,600
Homer questions
Is Homer, Nebraska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Homer scores better for retirees than 51% of Nebraska towns and quieter than 73%. 18.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.5).
How much does a house cost in Homer?
The median owner-occupied home in Homer is valued at $162,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $80,714, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $677 a month.
What is the weather like in Homer?
July highs average 85.0°F and January lows 10.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 29.3 inches of precipitation a year and 36.0 inches of snow.
Does Homer get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Homer since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on July 28, 1986. 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)