The Town FilesWakefield, Nebraska
City in Dixon County · population 1,522 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $116,500
- Household income
- $56,964
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 36 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 37.1
Wakefield is a city of 1,522 people in Dixon County, Nebraska. The median home is worth $116,500, below the typical Nebraska town ($154,800).
How Wakefield 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 Wakefield is worth $116,500, below the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $56,964, which is more affordable than 68% of Nebraska towns. Median rent is $717 a month. 58.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Wakefield | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $116,500 | $154,800 |
| Median rent | $717 | $818 |
| Median household income | $56,964 | $66,320 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 58.8% | 73.2% |
| Median year built | 1957 | 1963 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Wakefield
| People | Wakefield | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.1 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.6% | 20.8% |
| Under 18 | 35.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.7% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.5% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 5.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 27.4% | — |
| Work from home | 6.6% | 5.2% |
| Average commute | 18.8 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.2% | 87.8% |
Weather in Wakefield
July highs average 86.3°F and January lows 9.5°F. About 30.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 35.5 inches of snow (typical Nebraska town: 28.6 in). Expect about 27 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 157 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wakefield since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Nebraska town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on June 16, 2014 about 2.0 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 16 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 16, 2014.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 48 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on May 5, 1964.
Severe weather in Dixon County since 1996
Dixon County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 27, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4662: 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 |
| August 27, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4387: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Dixon County
Dixon County had 1,859 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,764 a year. Unemployment was 2% in 2023; in Wakefield itself the ACS puts it at 3.9%.
Public schools in Wakefield
2 public schools with 594 students, about 12.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAKEFIELD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 353 | 12.6 |
| WAKEFIELD HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 241 | 12.1 |
Towns near Wakefield
- Emerson, NE7.0 mi · 840 people · home $116,400
- Wayne, NE7.7 mi · 5,973 people · home $228,900
- Pender, NE13.3 mi · 1,115 people · home $175,000
- Laurel, NE16.4 mi · 972 people · home $164,200
- Wisner, NE19.3 mi · 1,239 people · home $139,500
- Homer, NE19.4 mi · 532 people · home $162,900
- Winnebago, NE20.1 mi · 916 people · home $66,600
- Walthill, NE20.6 mi · 682 people · home $39,400
Wakefield questions
Is Wakefield, Nebraska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Wakefield scores better for retirees than 30% of Nebraska towns and quieter than 58%. 18.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.1).
How much does a house cost in Wakefield?
The median owner-occupied home in Wakefield is valued at $116,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $56,964, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $717 a month.
What is the weather like in Wakefield?
July highs average 86.3°F and January lows 9.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 30.7 inches of precipitation a year and 35.5 inches of snow.
Does Wakefield get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wakefield since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on June 16, 2014. 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)