The Town FilesRed Cloud, Nebraska
City in Webster County · population 962 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $74,200
- Household income
- $45,909
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 19 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 24
- Median age
- 49.2
Red Cloud is a city of 962 people in Webster County, Nebraska. The median home is worth $74,200, below the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). It ranks quieter than 96% of Nebraska towns.
How Red Cloud 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 Red Cloud is worth $74,200, below the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). Homes cost about 1.6 times the median household income of $45,909, which is more affordable than 91% of Nebraska towns. Median rent is $585 a month. 65.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Red Cloud | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $74,200 | $154,800 |
| Median rent | $585 | $818 |
| Median household income | $45,909 | $66,320 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.6× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 65.1% | 73.2% |
| Median year built | 1948 | 1963 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.7% | — |
Who lives in Red Cloud
| People | Red Cloud | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.2 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.4% | 20.8% |
| Under 18 | 13.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.5% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.2% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 9.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.1% | — |
| Work from home | 2.2% | 5.2% |
| Average commute | 18.4 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.6% | 87.8% |
Weather in Red Cloud
July highs average 90.5°F and January lows 12.5°F. About 25.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 18.6 inches of snow (typical Nebraska town: 28.6 in). Expect about 50 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 160 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Red Cloud since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Nebraska town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on March 13, 1990 about 1.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 6, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 73 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on June 13, 1998.
Severe weather in Webster County since 1996
Webster County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 22, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4896: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| May 21, 2025 | Winter Storm | DR-4868: Severe Winter Storm 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 |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3483: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Webster County
Webster County had 1,058 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $42,789 a year. Unemployment was 2.5% in 2023; in Red Cloud itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Red Cloud
2 public schools with 286 students, about 11.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| RED CLOUD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 177 | 12.6 |
| RED CLOUD HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 109 | 9.9 |
Towns near Red Cloud
- Blue Hill, NE17.5 mi · 805 people · home $166,200
- Franklin, NE22.7 mi · 941 people · home $89,200
- Superior, NE24.8 mi · 1,825 people · home $82,400
- Smith Center, KS25.6 mi · 1,571 people · home $90,400
- Mankato, KS26.5 mi · 836 people · home $55,800
Red Cloud questions
Is Red Cloud, Nebraska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Red Cloud scores better for retirees than 64% of Nebraska towns and quieter than 96%. 26.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 49.2).
How much does a house cost in Red Cloud?
The median owner-occupied home in Red Cloud is valued at $74,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $45,909, so homes cost about 1.6 times income. Median rent is $585 a month.
What is the weather like in Red Cloud?
July highs average 90.5°F and January lows 12.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 25.5 inches of precipitation a year and 18.6 inches of snow.
Does Red Cloud get tornadoes?
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Red Cloud since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on March 13, 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)