The Town FilesHowells, Nebraska
Village in Colfax County · population 561 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $107,400
- Household income
- $80,938
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 24 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 26
- Median age
- 51.6
Howells is a village of 561 people in Colfax County, Nebraska. The median home is worth $107,400, below the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). It ranks better for families than 84% of Nebraska towns, quieter than 76% of Nebraska towns.
How Howells 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 Howells is worth $107,400, below the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). Homes cost about 1.3 times the median household income of $80,938, which is more affordable than 98% of Nebraska towns. Median rent is $588 a month. 90.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Howells | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $107,400 | $154,800 |
| Median rent | $588 | $818 |
| Median household income | $80,938 | $66,320 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.3× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 90.6% | 73.2% |
| Median year built | 1947 | 1963 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 5.7% | — |
Who lives in Howells
| People | Howells | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.6 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.4% | 20.8% |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.9% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.3% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 6.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.1% | — |
| Work from home | 7.5% | 5.2% |
| Average commute | 21.7 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 76.4% | 87.8% |
Weather in Howells
July highs average 86.5°F and January lows 13.4°F. About 28.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 23.7 inches of snow (typical Nebraska town: 28.6 in). Expect about 22 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 152 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Howells since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Nebraska town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 4, 1977 about 6.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 15, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 57 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on May 5, 1964.
Severe weather in Colfax County since 1996
Colfax County has been included in 20 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 |
| August 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4808: 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 Colfax County
Colfax County had 5,155 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,741 a year. Unemployment was 1.8% in 2023; in Howells itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Howells
2 public schools with 164 students, about 9.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| HOWELLS SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 137 | 9.8 |
| HOWELLS-DODGE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL/HOWELLS | PK-PK | 27 | 9.0 |
Towns near Howells
- Clarkson, NE6.0 mi · 641 people · home $84,500
- Dodge, NE6.4 mi · 611 people · home $126,100
- West Point, NE17.3 mi · 3,500 people · home $202,200
- Beemer, NE17.4 mi · 611 people · home $129,300
- Scribner, NE18.0 mi · 843 people · home $114,400
- Stanton, NE18.8 mi · 1,520 people · home $177,100
- Wisner, NE18.9 mi · 1,239 people · home $139,500
- Schuyler, NE19.2 mi · 6,547 people · home $145,700
Howells questions
Is Howells, Nebraska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Howells scores better for retirees than 60% of Nebraska towns and quieter than 76%. 24.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 51.6).
How much does a house cost in Howells?
The median owner-occupied home in Howells is valued at $107,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $80,938, so homes cost about 1.3 times income. Median rent is $588 a month.
What is the weather like in Howells?
July highs average 86.5°F and January lows 13.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 28.8 inches of precipitation a year and 23.7 inches of snow.
Does Howells get tornadoes?
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Howells since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 4, 1977. 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)