The Town FilesSyracuse, Nebraska
City in Otoe County · population 1,941 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $205,900
- Household income
- $72,404
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 26 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 20
- Median age
- 41.5
Syracuse is a city of 1,941 people in Otoe County, Nebraska. The median home is worth $205,900, above the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). It ranks better transit than 96% of Nebraska towns, more upscale than 88% of Nebraska towns, better for retirees than 87% of Nebraska towns.
How Syracuse 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 Syracuse is worth $205,900, above the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $72,404, which is more affordable than 22% of Nebraska towns. Median rent is $573 a month. 79.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Syracuse | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $205,900 | $154,800 |
| Median rent | $573 | $818 |
| Median household income | $72,404 | $66,320 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 79.3% | 73.2% |
| Median year built | 1968 | 1963 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.9% | — |
Who lives in Syracuse
| People | Syracuse | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.5 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.2% | 20.8% |
| Under 18 | 23.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.5% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.7% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 6.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.7% | — |
| Work from home | 5.8% | 5.2% |
| Average commute | 24.7 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.4% | 87.8% |
Weather in Syracuse
July highs average 88.2°F and January lows 12.6°F. About 32.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 25.5 inches of snow (typical Nebraska town: 28.6 in). Expect about 40 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 147 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Syracuse since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Nebraska town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 26, 1991 about 7.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 10, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 68 times; the largest was 5.00 inches on June 27, 1967.
Severe weather in Otoe County since 1996
Otoe County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| March 21, 2019 | Flood | DR-4420: Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Otoe County
Otoe County had 6,224 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,027 a year. Unemployment was 2.2% in 2023; in Syracuse itself the ACS puts it at 2.2%.
Public schools in Syracuse
3 public schools with 784 students, about 13.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| MIDDLE SCHOOL AT SYRACUSE | 4-8 | 294 | 14.0 |
| ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AT SYRACUSE | PK-3 | 275 | 15.3 |
| HIGH SCHOOL AT SYRACUSE | 9-12 | 215 | 11.3 |
Towns near Syracuse
- Palmyra, NE11.4 mi · 534 people · home $164,500
- Elmwood, NE13.7 mi · 654 people · home $194,800
- Weeping Water, NE14.4 mi · 1,029 people · home $185,800
- Eagle, NE16.8 mi · 1,065 people · home $172,800
- Nebraska City, NE16.8 mi · 7,222 people · home $162,000
- Bennet, NE16.9 mi · 1,082 people · home $272,400
- Tecumseh, NE20.2 mi · 1,694 people · home $106,300
- Adams, NE22.1 mi · 604 people · home $191,500
Syracuse questions
Is Syracuse, Nebraska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Syracuse scores better for retirees than 87% of Nebraska towns and quieter than 63%. 26.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.5).
How much does a house cost in Syracuse?
The median owner-occupied home in Syracuse is valued at $205,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $72,404, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $573 a month.
What is the weather like in Syracuse?
July highs average 88.2°F and January lows 12.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 32.2 inches of precipitation a year and 25.5 inches of snow.
Does Syracuse get tornadoes?
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Syracuse since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 26, 1991. 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)