The Town FilesWilber, Nebraska
City in Saline County · population 1,937 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $185,700
- Household income
- $84,712
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 24 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 34.4
Wilber is a city of 1,937 people in Saline County, Nebraska. The median home is worth $185,700, above the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). It ranks better for families than 77% of Nebraska towns, better transit than 77% of Nebraska towns, better for cycling than 76% of Nebraska towns.
How Wilber 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 Wilber is worth $185,700, above the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $84,712, which is more affordable than 54% of Nebraska towns. Median rent is $805 a month. 67.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Wilber | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $185,700 | $154,800 |
| Median rent | $805 | $818 |
| Median household income | $84,712 | $66,320 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 67.0% | 73.2% |
| Median year built | 1953 | 1963 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in Wilber
| People | Wilber | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.4 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.8% | 20.8% |
| Under 18 | 29.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.8% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.6% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 5.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 16.5% | — |
| Work from home | 4.8% | 5.2% |
| Average commute | 19.1 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.2% | 87.8% |
Weather in Wilber
July highs average 86.5°F and January lows 13.6°F. About 31.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 24.3 inches of snow (typical Nebraska town: 28.6 in). Expect about 36 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 133 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wilber since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Nebraska town. 11 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 22, 2004 about 4.4 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 41 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 11, 2014.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 99 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on September 7, 2001.
Severe weather in Saline County since 1996
Saline County has been included in 21 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 |
| February 23, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4641: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4521: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3483: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Saline County
Saline County had 6,653 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,910 a year. Unemployment was 2.4% in 2023; in Wilber itself the ACS puts it at 0.8%.
Public schools in Wilber
3 public schools with 604 students, about 13.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AT WILBER | PK-5 | 261 | 13.1 |
| WILBER-CLATONIA HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 199 | 15.3 |
| WILBER-CLATONIA MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 144 | 13.1 |
Towns near Wilber
- De Witt, NE6.4 mi · 530 people · home $136,900
- Crete, NE10.0 mi · 7,099 people · home $223,500
- Cortland, NE13.7 mi · 504 people · home $183,200
- Dorchester, NE14.0 mi · 610 people · home $163,200
- Beatrice, NE18.4 mi · 12,261 people · home $159,300
- Firth, NE19.3 mi · 649 people · home $221,600
- Hickman, NE20.3 mi · 2,607 people · home $311,700
- Friend, NE20.4 mi · 954 people · home $173,800
Wilber questions
Is Wilber, Nebraska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Wilber scores better for retirees than 34% of Nebraska towns and quieter than 40%. 13.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.4).
How much does a house cost in Wilber?
The median owner-occupied home in Wilber is valued at $185,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $84,712, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $805 a month.
What is the weather like in Wilber?
July highs average 86.5°F and January lows 13.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 31.0 inches of precipitation a year and 24.3 inches of snow.
Does Wilber get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wilber since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 22, 2004. 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)