The Town FilesTilden, Nebraska
City in Madison County · population 992 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $156,500
- Household income
- $69,118
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 31 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 41.6
Tilden is a city of 992 people in Madison County, Nebraska. The median home is worth $156,500, close to the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). It ranks more of a college town than 87% of Nebraska towns, easier by car than 87% of Nebraska towns, better for families than 84% of Nebraska towns.
How Tilden 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 Tilden is worth $156,500, close to the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $69,118, which is more affordable than 46% of Nebraska towns. Median rent is $697 a month. 77.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Tilden | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $156,500 | $154,800 |
| Median rent | $697 | $818 |
| Median household income | $69,118 | $66,320 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 77.2% | 73.2% |
| Median year built | 1963 | 1963 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Tilden
| People | Tilden | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.6 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.7% | 20.8% |
| Under 18 | 26.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.7% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.6% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 13.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 5.5% | 5.2% |
| Average commute | 17.8 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.0% | 87.8% |
Weather in Tilden
July highs average 83.2°F and January lows 10.4°F. About 27.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 31.4 inches of snow (typical Nebraska town: 28.6 in). Expect about 18 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 165 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Tilden since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Nebraska town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 8, 1965 about 5.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 25, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 68 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on June 25, 2024.
Severe weather in Madison County since 1996
Madison County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 6, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4616: 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 |
| June 29, 2018 | Snowstorm | DR-4375: Severe Winter Storm And Straight-Line Winds |
Jobs and pay in Madison County
Madison County had 22,011 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,267 a year. Unemployment was 2% in 2023; in Tilden itself the ACS puts it at 1.1%.
Public schools in Tilden
2 public schools with 467 students, about 13.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELKHORN VALLEY ELEMENTARY SCH | PK-6 | 259 | 13.0 |
| ELKHORN VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 208 | 13.0 |
Towns near Tilden
- Neligh, NE11.7 mi · 1,536 people · home $150,600
- Battle Creek, NE12.3 mi · 1,194 people · home $194,300
- Elgin, NE13.5 mi · 717 people · home $110,600
- Pierce, NE18.9 mi · 1,845 people · home $179,400
- Newman Grove, NE20.7 mi · 667 people · home $100,000
- Norfolk, NE20.8 mi · 24,955 people · home $211,700
- Plainview, NE21.5 mi · 1,282 people · home $96,000
- Madison, NE24.3 mi · 2,283 people · home $133,200
Tilden questions
Is Tilden, Nebraska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Tilden scores better for retirees than 32% of Nebraska towns and quieter than 41%. 19.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.6).
How much does a house cost in Tilden?
The median owner-occupied home in Tilden is valued at $156,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $69,118, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $697 a month.
What is the weather like in Tilden?
July highs average 83.2°F and January lows 10.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 27.6 inches of precipitation a year and 31.4 inches of snow.
Does Tilden get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Tilden since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 8, 1965. 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)