The Town FilesPonca, Nebraska
City in Dixon County · population 907 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $201,000
- Household income
- $57,188
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 35 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 43.9
Ponca is a city of 907 people in Dixon County, Nebraska. The median home is worth $201,000, above the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). It ranks better for retirees than 94% of Nebraska towns, hipper than 89% of Nebraska towns, better for first-time buyers than 74% of Nebraska towns.
How Ponca 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 Ponca is worth $201,000, above the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $57,188, which is more affordable than 4% of Nebraska towns. Median rent is $505 a month. 74.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ponca | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $201,000 | $154,800 |
| Median rent | $505 | $818 |
| Median household income | $57,188 | $66,320 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 74.9% | 73.2% |
| Median year built | 1967 | 1963 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.4% | — |
Who lives in Ponca
| People | Ponca | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.9 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.8% | 20.8% |
| Under 18 | 20.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.0% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.7% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 9.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.0% | — |
| Work from home | 6.5% | 5.2% |
| Average commute | 22.6 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.5% | 87.8% |
Weather in Ponca
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 10.2°F. About 28.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 35.4 inches of snow (typical Nebraska town: 28.6 in). Expect about 29 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 152 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ponca since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Nebraska town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on July 28, 1986 about 2.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on October 4, 2013.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 71 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on August 18, 2011.
Severe weather in Dixon County since 1996
Dixon County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| 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 |
| August 27, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4387: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Dixon County
Dixon County had 1,859 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,764 a year. Unemployment was 2% in 2023; in Ponca itself the ACS puts it at 3.4%.
Public schools in Ponca
2 public schools with 321 students, about 11.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| PONCA HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 203 | 11.3 |
| PONCA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | 3-6 | 118 | 11.8 |
Towns near Ponca
- Elk Point, SD8.2 mi · 2,149 people · home $248,500
- North Sioux City, SD11.1 mi · 3,042 people · home $269,800
- Dakota Dunes, SD12.6 mi · 4,020 people · home $565,600
- South Sioux City, NE16.7 mi · 14,043 people · home $174,700
- Sioux City, IA17.0 mi · 85,797 people · home $173,600
- Dakota City, NE17.9 mi · 2,081 people · home $177,800
- Vermillion, SD18.6 mi · 11,695 people · home $219,000
- Akron, IA19.7 mi · 1,558 people · home $157,900
Ponca questions
Is Ponca, Nebraska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ponca scores better for retirees than 94% of Nebraska towns and quieter than 60%. 26.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.9).
How much does a house cost in Ponca?
The median owner-occupied home in Ponca is valued at $201,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $57,188, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $505 a month.
What is the weather like in Ponca?
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 10.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 28.0 inches of precipitation a year and 35.4 inches of snow.
Does Ponca get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ponca since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on July 28, 1986. 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)