The Town FilesValentine, Nebraska
City in Cherry County · population 2,633 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $148,600
- Household income
- $56,898
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 29 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 37.2
Valentine is a city of 2,633 people in Cherry County, Nebraska. The median home is worth $148,600, close to the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 94% of Nebraska towns, better for young professionals than 74% of Nebraska towns.
How Valentine 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 Valentine is worth $148,600, close to the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $56,898, which is more affordable than 30% of Nebraska towns. Median rent is $892 a month. 62.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Valentine | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $148,600 | $154,800 |
| Median rent | $892 | $818 |
| Median household income | $56,898 | $66,320 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 62.0% | 73.2% |
| Median year built | 1969 | 1963 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 5.9% | — |
Who lives in Valentine
| People | Valentine | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.2 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.4% | 20.8% |
| Under 18 | 23.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.7% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.1% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 5.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.5% | — |
| Work from home | 2.2% | 5.2% |
| Average commute | 14.7 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.0% | 87.8% |
Weather in Valentine
July highs average 89.1°F and January lows 12.9°F. About 20.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 28.7 inches of snow (typical Nebraska town: 28.6 in). Expect about 43 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 162 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Valentine since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Nebraska town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 19, 1975 about 3.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 20, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 77 times; the largest was 4.25 inches on March 18, 2012.
Severe weather in Cherry County since 1996
Cherry County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| July 15, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1924: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| February 25, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1878: Severe Winter Storms And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Cherry County
Cherry County had 2,323 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $41,350 a year. Unemployment was 1.9% in 2023; in Valentine itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Valentine
4 public schools with 610 students, about 10.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| VALENTINE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-4 | 287 | 12.0 |
| VALENTINE MIDDLE SCHOOL | 5-8 | 154 | 10.3 |
| VALENTINE HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 152 | 8.4 |
| Littleburg Elementary - 12 | K-8 | 17 | 17.0 |
Valentine questions
Is Valentine, Nebraska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Valentine scores better for retirees than 63% of Nebraska towns and quieter than 62%. 23.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.2).
How much does a house cost in Valentine?
The median owner-occupied home in Valentine is valued at $148,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $56,898, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $892 a month.
What is the weather like in Valentine?
July highs average 89.1°F and January lows 12.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 20.8 inches of precipitation a year and 28.7 inches of snow.
Does Valentine get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Valentine since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 19, 1975. 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)