The Town FilesOsceola, Nebraska
City in Polk County · population 875 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $148,400
- Household income
- $81,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 29 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 31
- Median age
- 41.4
Osceola is a city of 875 people in Polk County, Nebraska. The median home is worth $148,400, close to the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). It ranks better for a vacation home than 97% of Nebraska towns, quieter than 92% of Nebraska towns, more of a college town than 70% of Nebraska towns.
How Osceola 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 Osceola is worth $148,400, close to the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). Homes cost about 1.8 times the median household income of $81,250, which is more affordable than 82% of Nebraska towns. Median rent is $489 a month. 70.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Osceola | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $148,400 | $154,800 |
| Median rent | $489 | $818 |
| Median household income | $81,250 | $66,320 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.8× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 70.2% | 73.2% |
| Median year built | 1966 | 1963 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.9% | — |
Who lives in Osceola
| People | Osceola | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.4 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.3% | 20.8% |
| Under 18 | 16.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.6% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.7% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 6.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.7% | — |
| Work from home | 3.5% | 5.2% |
| Average commute | 17.8 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.5% | 87.8% |
Weather in Osceola
July highs average 86.0°F and January lows 13.1°F. About 28.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 29.3 inches of snow (typical Nebraska town: 28.6 in). Expect about 23 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 144 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Osceola since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Nebraska town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on May 5, 1964 about 4.5 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 33 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 21, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 81 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 12, 1956.
Severe weather in Polk County since 1996
Polk County has been included in 20 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 |
| August 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4808: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| July 27, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4662: Severe Storms And Straight-Line Winds |
| February 23, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4641: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4521: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Polk County
Polk County had 1,438 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,530 a year. Unemployment was 1.9% in 2023; in Osceola itself the ACS puts it at 2.3%.
Public schools in Osceola
3 public schools with 243 students, about 10.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| OSCEOLA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 116 | 11.6 |
| OSCEOLA HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 85 | 9.4 |
| OSCEOLA MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 42 | 10.5 |
Towns near Osceola
- Stromsburg, NE4.8 mi · 1,143 people · home $159,900
- Shelby, NE6.5 mi · 710 people · home $120,500
- Columbus, NE20.4 mi · 24,028 people · home $213,600
- Genoa, NE20.8 mi · 894 people · home $115,900
- York, NE21.5 mi · 8,066 people · home $180,900
- Utica, NE22.3 mi · 840 people · home $188,700
- David City, NE22.6 mi · 2,995 people · home $165,200
- Central City, NE23.9 mi · 3,039 people · home $165,300
Osceola questions
Is Osceola, Nebraska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Osceola scores better for retirees than 56% of Nebraska towns and quieter than 92%. 24.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.4).
How much does a house cost in Osceola?
The median owner-occupied home in Osceola is valued at $148,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $81,250, so homes cost about 1.8 times income. Median rent is $489 a month.
What is the weather like in Osceola?
July highs average 86.0°F and January lows 13.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 28.8 inches of precipitation a year and 29.3 inches of snow.
Does Osceola get tornadoes?
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Osceola since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on May 5, 1964. 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)