The Town FilesOrd, Nebraska
City in Valley County · population 2,113 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $119,800
- Household income
- $57,818
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 35 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 25
- Median age
- 39.5
Ord is a city of 2,113 people in Valley County, Nebraska. The median home is worth $119,800, below the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 90% of Nebraska towns, more of a college town than 86% of Nebraska towns, better for retirees than 81% of Nebraska towns.
How Ord 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 Ord is worth $119,800, below the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $57,818, which is more affordable than 61% of Nebraska towns. Median rent is $617 a month. 69.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ord | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $119,800 | $154,800 |
| Median rent | $617 | $818 |
| Median household income | $57,818 | $66,320 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 69.6% | 73.2% |
| Median year built | 1963 | 1963 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Ord
| People | Ord | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.5 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.1% | 20.8% |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.5% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.1% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 5.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.8% | — |
| Work from home | 3.7% | 5.2% |
| Average commute | 13.5 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.2% | 87.8% |
Weather in Ord
July highs average 87.1°F and January lows 12.2°F. About 23.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 35.0 inches of snow (typical Nebraska town: 28.6 in). Expect about 33 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 164 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ord since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Nebraska town. 11 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 30, 1961 about 2.0 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 12 deaths and 2 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 1, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 72 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 14, 1980.
Severe weather in Valley County since 1996
Valley County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 27, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4662: Severe Storms And Straight-Line Winds |
| 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 |
| June 29, 2018 | Snowstorm | DR-4375: Severe Winter Storm And Straight-Line Winds |
Jobs and pay in Valley County
Valley County had 1,754 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,900 a year. Unemployment was 2.2% in 2023; in Ord itself the ACS puts it at 0.5%.
Public schools in Ord
2 public schools with 568 students, about 12.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| ORD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 325 | 16.3 |
| ORD JR-SR HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 243 | 9.3 |
Towns near Ord
- Burwell, NE16.5 mi · 1,087 people · home $164,400
- Loup City, NE22.7 mi · 1,053 people · home $96,300
- Sargent, NE23.4 mi · 500 people · home $57,900
Ord questions
Is Ord, Nebraska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ord scores better for retirees than 81% of Nebraska towns and quieter than 36%. 25.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.5).
How much does a house cost in Ord?
The median owner-occupied home in Ord is valued at $119,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $57,818, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $617 a month.
What is the weather like in Ord?
July highs average 87.1°F and January lows 12.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 23.8 inches of precipitation a year and 35.0 inches of snow.
Does Ord get tornadoes?
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ord since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 30, 1961. 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)