The Town FilesScottsbluff, Nebraska
City in Scotts Bluff County · population 14,436 (2020 Census)
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- Median home
- $137,700
- Household income
- $56,359
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 40 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 40
- Median age
- 38.8
Scottsbluff is a city of 14,436 people in Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska. The median home is worth $137,700, below the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). It ranks more vibrant than 95% of Nebraska towns, more walkable than 92% of Nebraska towns, better for cycling than 86% of Nebraska towns.
How Scottsbluff 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 Scottsbluff is worth $137,700, below the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $56,359, which is more affordable than 40% of Nebraska towns. Median rent is $966 a month. 59.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Scottsbluff | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $137,700 | $154,800 |
| Median rent | $966 | $818 |
| Median household income | $56,359 | $66,320 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 59.4% | 73.2% |
| Median year built | 1963 | 1963 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in Scottsbluff
| People | Scottsbluff | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.8 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.0% | 20.8% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.3% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.4% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 6.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.1% | — |
| Work from home | 5.7% | 5.2% |
| Average commute | 12.5 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.9% | 87.8% |
Weather in Scottsbluff
July highs average 88.9°F and January lows 14.8°F. About 15.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 39.7 inches of snow (typical Nebraska town: 28.6 in). Expect about 46 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 170 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
40 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Scottsbluff since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Nebraska town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 27, 1955 about 1.1 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 36 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 23, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 255 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on June 23, 2023.
Severe weather in Scotts Bluff County since 1996
Scotts Bluff County has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4822: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| May 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4786: Severe Winter Storm 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 |
Jobs and pay in Scotts Bluff County
Scotts Bluff County had 15,975 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,713 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Scottsbluff itself the ACS puts it at 2.6%.
Public schools in Scottsbluff
13 public schools with 3,428 students, about 14.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| SCOTTSBLUFF SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,062 | 16.6 |
| BLUFFS MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 805 | 15.8 |
| WESTMOOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 393 | 13.6 |
| LONGFELLOW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 390 | 15.6 |
| LINCOLN HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY SCH | PK-5 | 299 | 12.5 |
| ROOSEVELT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 249 | 11.3 |
| EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNING CENTER | PK-PK | 172 | 21.5 |
| MERIDIAN SCHOOL | PK-12 | 21 | 4.2 |
| EARLY LEARNING CENTER | PK-PK | 16 | 3.2 |
| WESTERN NEBRASK CHILD DEV CENTER (WNCDC) | PK-PK | 12 | 6.0 |
| HOME BASED | PK-PK | 9 | — |
| LIFELINKS-NEBRASKA | 12-12 | — | — |
Towns near Scottsbluff
- Gering, NE2.8 mi · 8,564 people · home $186,500
- Torrington, WY29.5 mi · 6,119 people · home $197,500
Scottsbluff questions
Is Scottsbluff, Nebraska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Scottsbluff scores better for retirees than 7% of Nebraska towns and quieter than 7%. 21.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.8).
How much does a house cost in Scottsbluff?
The median owner-occupied home in Scottsbluff is valued at $137,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $56,359, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $966 a month.
What is the weather like in Scottsbluff?
July highs average 88.9°F and January lows 14.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 15.6 inches of precipitation a year and 39.7 inches of snow.
Does Scottsbluff get tornadoes?
40 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Scottsbluff since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on June 27, 1955. 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)