The Town FilesImperial, Nebraska
City in Chase County · population 2,068 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $158,600
- Household income
- $74,176
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 26 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 44.8
Imperial is a city of 2,068 people in Chase County, Nebraska. The median home is worth $158,600, close to the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). It ranks better for cycling than 91% of Nebraska towns, better transit than 91% of Nebraska towns, better for retirees than 90% of Nebraska towns.
How Imperial 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 Imperial is worth $158,600, close to the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $74,176, which is more affordable than 61% of Nebraska towns. Median rent is $904 a month. 85.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Imperial | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $158,600 | $154,800 |
| Median rent | $904 | $818 |
| Median household income | $74,176 | $66,320 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 85.0% | 73.2% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1963 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 6.3% | — |
Who lives in Imperial
| People | Imperial | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.8 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.5% | 20.8% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.1% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.1% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 4.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.2% | — |
| Work from home | 8.6% | 5.2% |
| Average commute | 12.7 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.7% | 87.8% |
Weather in Imperial
July highs average 90.8°F and January lows 12.3°F. About 19.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 26.0 inches of snow (typical Nebraska town: 28.6 in). Expect about 45 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 170 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Imperial since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Nebraska town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 1, 1990 about 8.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 27, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 117 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on August 17, 1999.
Severe weather in Chase County since 1996
Chase County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4521: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3483: Covid-19 |
| August 12, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-4014: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight Line Winds, And Flooding |
| July 15, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1924: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| July 31, 2009 | Severe Storm | DR-1853: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
Jobs and pay in Chase County
Chase County had 1,779 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,656 a year. Unemployment was 1.7% in 2023; in Imperial itself the ACS puts it at 1.7%.
Public schools in Imperial
3 public schools with 634 students, about 12.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHASE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 219 | 12.9 |
| CHASE COUNTY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-4 | 218 | 10.4 |
| CHASE COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL | 5-8 | 197 | 15.2 |
Towns near Imperial
- Wauneta, NE15.5 mi · 549 people · home $88,100
- Grant, NE23.3 mi · 1,197 people · home $154,600
Imperial questions
Is Imperial, Nebraska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Imperial scores better for retirees than 90% of Nebraska towns and quieter than 66%. 21.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.8).
How much does a house cost in Imperial?
The median owner-occupied home in Imperial is valued at $158,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $74,176, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $904 a month.
What is the weather like in Imperial?
July highs average 90.8°F and January lows 12.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 19.8 inches of precipitation a year and 26.0 inches of snow.
Does Imperial get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Imperial since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 1, 1990. 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)