The Town FilesWood River, Nebraska
City in Hall County · population 1,172 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $151,200
- Household income
- $75,417
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 26 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 45
- Median age
- 37.3
Wood River is a city of 1,172 people in Hall County, Nebraska. The median home is worth $151,200, close to the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). It ranks easier by car than 100% of Nebraska towns, better for first-time buyers than 95% of Nebraska towns, better transit than 74% of Nebraska towns.
How Wood River 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 Wood River is worth $151,200, close to the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $75,417, which is more affordable than 68% of Nebraska towns. Median rent is $811 a month. 82.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Wood River | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $151,200 | $154,800 |
| Median rent | $811 | $818 |
| Median household income | $75,417 | $66,320 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 82.5% | 73.2% |
| Median year built | 1967 | 1963 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Wood River
| People | Wood River | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.3 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.3% | 20.8% |
| Under 18 | 29.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.8% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.6% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 12.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.6% | — |
| Work from home | 4.6% | 5.2% |
| Average commute | 25.5 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.2% | 87.8% |
Weather in Wood River
July highs average 86.8°F and January lows 15.2°F. About 27.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 26.3 inches of snow (typical Nebraska town: 28.6 in). Expect about 32 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 146 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
45 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wood River since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Nebraska town. 15 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 8, 1965 about 3.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on October 12, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 92 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on July 19, 1975.
Severe weather in Hall County since 1996
Hall County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 6, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4616: 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 |
| June 29, 2018 | Snowstorm | DR-4375: Severe Winter Storm And Straight-Line Winds |
Jobs and pay in Hall County
Hall County had 35,986 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,305 a year. Unemployment was 2.3% in 2023; in Wood River itself the ACS puts it at 0.4%.
Public schools in Wood River
3 public schools with 490 students, about 10.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| WOOD RIVER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 220 | 10.0 |
| WOOD RIVER RURAL HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 161 | 10.1 |
| WOOD RIVER RURAL MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 109 | 12.1 |
Towns near Wood River
- Shelton, NE7.1 mi · 1,034 people · home $142,100
- Alda, NE7.8 mi · 647 people · home $106,500
- Doniphan, NE12.6 mi · 809 people · home $211,100
- Cairo, NE12.8 mi · 822 people · home $193,000
- Gibbon, NE13.6 mi · 1,878 people · home $173,800
- Kenesaw, NE14.2 mi · 919 people · home $177,600
- Grand Island, NE14.6 mi · 53,131 people · home $218,600
- Juniata, NE16.7 mi · 748 people · home $143,300
Wood River questions
Is Wood River, Nebraska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Wood River scores better for retirees than 37% of Nebraska towns and quieter than 67%. 20.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.3).
How much does a house cost in Wood River?
The median owner-occupied home in Wood River is valued at $151,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $75,417, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $811 a month.
What is the weather like in Wood River?
July highs average 86.8°F and January lows 15.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 27.8 inches of precipitation a year and 26.3 inches of snow.
Does Wood River get tornadoes?
45 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wood River since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 8, 1965. 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)