The Town FilesUtica, Nebraska
Village in Seward County · population 840 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $188,700
- Household income
- $88,304
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 21 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 32
- Median age
- 32.8
Utica is a village of 840 people in Seward County, Nebraska. The median home is worth $188,700, above the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). It ranks better for families than 98% of Nebraska towns, more upscale than 90% of Nebraska towns, quieter than 87% of Nebraska towns.
How Utica 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 Utica is worth $188,700, above the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $88,304, which is more affordable than 61% of Nebraska towns. Median rent is $967 a month. 68.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Utica | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $188,700 | $154,800 |
| Median rent | $967 | $818 |
| Median household income | $88,304 | $66,320 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 68.6% | 73.2% |
| Median year built | 1956 | 1963 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Utica
| People | Utica | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.8 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.4% | 20.8% |
| Under 18 | 28.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.3% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.2% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 7.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.0% | — |
| Work from home | 8.8% | 5.2% |
| Average commute | 18.6 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.5% | 87.8% |
Weather in Utica
July highs average 87.9°F and January lows 13.9°F. About 28.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 20.5 inches of snow (typical Nebraska town: 28.6 in). Expect about 41 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 140 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
32 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Utica since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Nebraska town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on March 13, 1990 about 6.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 12, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 92 times; the largest was 4.25 inches on July 26, 2014.
Severe weather in Seward County since 1996
Seward County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| 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 |
| 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 Seward County
Seward County had 5,990 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,719 a year. Unemployment was 2% in 2023; in Utica itself the ACS puts it at 1.4%.
Public schools in Utica
3 public schools with 497 students, about 11.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| CENTENNIAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 238 | 11.3 |
| CENTENNIAL JR-SR HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 148 | 7.0 |
| CENTENNIAL MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 111 | — |
Towns near Utica
- York, NE13.0 mi · 8,066 people · home $180,900
- Seward, NE13.1 mi · 7,643 people · home $244,600
- Friend, NE17.2 mi · 954 people · home $173,800
- Milford, NE17.4 mi · 2,155 people · home $228,200
- Exeter, NE18.2 mi · 523 people · home $116,000
- Stromsburg, NE19.9 mi · 1,143 people · home $159,900
- Dorchester, NE20.9 mi · 610 people · home $163,200
- Shelby, NE21.1 mi · 710 people · home $120,500
Utica questions
Is Utica, Nebraska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Utica scores better for retirees than 71% of Nebraska towns and quieter than 87%. 15.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.8).
How much does a house cost in Utica?
The median owner-occupied home in Utica is valued at $188,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $88,304, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $967 a month.
What is the weather like in Utica?
July highs average 87.9°F and January lows 13.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 28.6 inches of precipitation a year and 20.5 inches of snow.
Does Utica get tornadoes?
32 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Utica 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)