The Town FilesPawnee City, Nebraska
City in Pawnee County · population 865 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $64,000
- Household income
- $45,096
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 21 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 43.5
Pawnee City is a city of 865 people in Pawnee County, Nebraska. The median home is worth $64,000, below the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). It ranks quieter than 85% of Nebraska towns, better for first-time buyers than 83% of Nebraska towns, better for cycling than 82% of Nebraska towns.
How Pawnee City 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 Pawnee City is worth $64,000, below the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). Homes cost about 1.4 times the median household income of $45,096, which is more affordable than 96% of Nebraska towns. Median rent is $623 a month. 77.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Pawnee City | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $64,000 | $154,800 |
| Median rent | $623 | $818 |
| Median household income | $45,096 | $66,320 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.4× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 77.2% | 73.2% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1963 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 9.8% | — |
Who lives in Pawnee City
| People | Pawnee City | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.5 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.1% | 20.8% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.9% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.6% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 15.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.5% | — |
| Work from home | 11.1% | 5.2% |
| Average commute | 11.0 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 79.8% | 87.8% |
Weather in Pawnee City
July highs average 88.4°F and January lows 14.4°F. About 34.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 20.7 inches of snow (typical Nebraska town: 28.6 in). Expect about 37 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 142 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pawnee City since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Nebraska town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on December 13, 1975 about 8.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 18, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 54 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on May 12, 2023.
Severe weather in Pawnee County since 1996
Pawnee County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 23, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4641: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| 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 25, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4225: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Pawnee County
Pawnee County had 707 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,548 a year. Unemployment was 2% in 2023; in Pawnee City itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Pawnee City
2 public schools with 266 students, about 10.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| PAWNEE CITY ELEMENTARY SCH | PK-6 | 146 | 12.2 |
| PAWNEE CITY SECONDARY SCHOOL | 7-12 | 120 | 8.6 |
Towns near Pawnee City
- Humboldt, NE11.7 mi · 800 people · home $67,500
- Tecumseh, NE18.1 mi · 1,694 people · home $106,300
- Seneca, KS19.3 mi · 2,139 people · home $235,100
- Sabetha, KS23.6 mi · 2,545 people · home $170,800
- Auburn, NE25.2 mi · 3,470 people · home $98,800
- Wymore, NE27.0 mi · 1,377 people · home $64,200
- Falls City, NE29.5 mi · 4,133 people · home $89,800
Pawnee City questions
Is Pawnee City, Nebraska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Pawnee City scores better for retirees than 43% of Nebraska towns and quieter than 85%. 26.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.5).
How much does a house cost in Pawnee City?
The median owner-occupied home in Pawnee City is valued at $64,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $45,096, so homes cost about 1.4 times income. Median rent is $623 a month.
What is the weather like in Pawnee City?
July highs average 88.4°F and January lows 14.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.1 inches of precipitation a year and 20.7 inches of snow.
Does Pawnee City get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pawnee City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on December 13, 1975. 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)