The Town FilesWauneta, Nebraska
Village in Chase County · population 549 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $88,100
- Household income
- $47,143
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 24 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 54.7
Wauneta is a village of 549 people in Chase County, Nebraska. The median home is worth $88,100, below the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). It ranks better for cycling than 91% of Nebraska towns, better transit than 91% of Nebraska towns, better for retirees than 90% of Nebraska towns.
How Wauneta 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 Wauneta is worth $88,100, below the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). Homes cost about 1.9 times the median household income of $47,143, which is more affordable than 76% of Nebraska towns. Median rent is $630 a month. 70.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Wauneta | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $88,100 | $154,800 |
| Median rent | $630 | $818 |
| Median household income | $47,143 | $66,320 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.9× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 70.8% | 73.2% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1963 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.3% | — |
Who lives in Wauneta
| People | Wauneta | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 54.7 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 44.8% | 20.8% |
| Under 18 | 17.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.9% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.6% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 9.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.5% | — |
| Work from home | 10.1% | 5.2% |
| Average commute | 15.0 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 80.9% | 87.8% |
Weather in Wauneta
July highs average 90.9°F and January lows 16.1°F. About 17.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 23.7 inches of snow (typical Nebraska town: 28.6 in). Expect about 58 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 159 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wauneta since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Nebraska town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on May 18, 2025 about 9.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 18, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 107 times; the largest was 4.25 inches on June 4, 2008.
Severe weather in Chase County since 1996
Chase County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4521: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3483: Covid-19 |
| August 12, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-4014: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight Line Winds, And Flooding |
| July 15, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1924: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| July 31, 2009 | Severe Storm | DR-1853: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
Jobs and pay in Chase County
Chase County had 1,779 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,656 a year. Unemployment was 1.7% in 2023; in Wauneta itself the ACS puts it at 4%.
Public schools in Wauneta
2 public schools with 120 students, about 13.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAUNETA-PALISADE HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 69 | 13.8 |
| WAUNETA PALISADE MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 51 | 12.8 |
Towns near Wauneta
- Imperial, NE15.5 mi · 2,068 people · home $158,600
- Trenton, NE25.2 mi · 516 people · home $69,200
- Benkelman, NE27.0 mi · 821 people · home $114,500
Wauneta questions
Is Wauneta, Nebraska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Wauneta scores better for retirees than 90% of Nebraska towns and quieter than 66%. 44.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 54.7).
How much does a house cost in Wauneta?
The median owner-occupied home in Wauneta is valued at $88,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $47,143, so homes cost about 1.9 times income. Median rent is $630 a month.
What is the weather like in Wauneta?
July highs average 90.9°F and January lows 16.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 17.5 inches of precipitation a year and 23.7 inches of snow.
Does Wauneta get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wauneta since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on May 18, 2025. 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)