What it's like to live in Scottsbluff
Scottsbluff is a small city in Nebraska with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, county unemployment below the national average, and commutes that run shorter than most cities. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Scottsbluff deals with household incomes below the national average, crime rates above the national average, a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin, and cold, harsh winters.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Low unemployment in the county
- Short commutes
- Clean air
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Below-average household incomes
- Crime above national average
- High rent burden for renters
- Cold, harsh winters
- Snowy winters — 40" per year
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
How Scottsbluff compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Scottsbluff
Based on Scottsbluff's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$1,932
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $38,640 a year
- 51% of Scottsbluff renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$27,540
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $13,770
- Homes cost 2.4× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 32% below US
$966/mo median rent
Rent here is genuinely low, with median rent around $966 a month. Factoring in local incomes, the value gets even better. Money stretches further here than in most of the country. Home prices here are genuinely accessible, with a median around $137,700. That kind of affordability is rare in today's market.
Median home value $137,700 · 51% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
3.4% county unemployment
Unemployment in Scotts Bluff County is 3.4%, a little below the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Scotts Bluff County (county-wide)
Safety▲ 104% above US
672 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is a real factor here, with violent rates significantly above the national average. That doesn't make the whole city a write-off, but it does mean specific neighborhoods deserve real research before signing a lease.
Property crime 3065/100k · Scottsbluff Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 52% below US
13 min average commute
Commutes run short here, averaging 12.5 minutes. That's an underrated perk of living in a smaller or well-planned city, where time isn't lost sitting in traffic. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 6% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 86°F, and winters are cold and harsh, with lows dropping to 15°F. It's a dry climate with limited rainfall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 2.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 27% below US
26% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 26%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
13 public schools inside the boundary
There are 13 public schools inside the boundary and 3 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Scotts Bluff National Monument (3 miles away). There are 3 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Scottsbluff's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are household incomes below the national average and crime rates above the national average. A year of median rent ($966/mo) equals 21% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget, job seekers (county-wide unemployment is low), and people who want short commutes. It may be a harder fit for anyone who dislikes long, cold winters.
Other places near Scottsbluff
All Nebraska guides →Moving to North Platte →
158 mi away · pop. 22,831
Rent $921/mo · Income $58,097
Compare with Scottsbluff →Moving to Lexington →
215 mi away · pop. 10,862
Rent $966/mo · Income $67,666
Compare with Scottsbluff →Moving to Grand Island →
280 mi away · pop. 52,884
Rent $947/mo · Income $63,795
Compare with Scottsbluff →Not sure Scottsbluff is the one?
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