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Living in
Norfolk.
About
Life in Norfolk
If you're considering Norfolk, understand that you're looking at a genuine working city rather than a destination community. The job market is solid—unemployment sits at 2.9%, and major employers like Nucor (steel manufacturing), Faith Regional Health Services, and various retail operations provide steady employment. The median household income of $58,884 paired with affordable housing (median home value $211,700, median rent $880) makes the cost of living genuinely accessible compared to most of the country.
Norfolk at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
37.3 yrs
Poverty Rate
14.3%
Foreign-Born
7.1%
Broadband Internet
84.6%
of households
Population Growth
+2.9%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics7.1% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Norfolk: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Norfolk, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (54.8%), and 9.3% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
24.2%
of residents
65 and Older
17.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
28.2%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
38.0%
of households
Married Couples
42.1%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.30
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 18% below NE average
Rent, home values, and income in Norfolk
In Norfolk, rent runs 18% below the NE average, and home values are 11% below the NE average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
35.5%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
18.9%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$2,994
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
60.9%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1976
median year built
Vacant Homes
6.8%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $258,233 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for NE
Unemployment in Norfolk
Unemployment in Norfolk is close to the NE average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Norfolk Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute13 min avg
How Norfolk residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Norfolk, most residents drive alone to work (79%), and 93% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 59 mi
Sioux Gateway Airport / Brigadier General Bud Day Field (SUX)
Regional airport · few flights29k passengers boarded in 2025
- 93 mi
Eppley Airfield (OMA)
Medium hub2.6M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 33% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Norfolk runs 33% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
221.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
987.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Norfolk Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 17 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
60.9 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Madison County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Madison County, which includes Norfolk, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 17 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 17 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2024 | 16 | Winter Storm | $100,000 |
| 2023 | 15 | Hail | Not estimated |
| 2022 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | Not estimated |
| 2021 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | Not estimated |
| 2020 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | Not estimated |
| 2019 | 9 | Winter Storm | $194,000 |
| 2018 | 17 | Winter Weather | $2,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Madison County, county-wide
Air Quality36 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Knox County, NE (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 48 miles from Norfolk) is typically good — 320 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
36
Good Days
320
per year
Moderate Days
24
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Knox County, NE (48 mi away)
Climate83°F summers, 13°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Norfolk has warm summers (avg high 83°F) and very cold winters (avg low 13°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
60°/36°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
83°/61°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
62°/37°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
34°/13°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
27.9"
Annual Snowfall
26.3"
Hot Days/Year
19
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
160
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
86
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 32°F | 10°F | 0.50" |
| Feb | 36°F | 14°F | 0.70" |
| Mar | 49°F | 25°F | 1.42" |
| Apr | 60°F | 35°F | 2.90" |
| May | 71°F | 48°F | 4.12" |
| Jun | 81°F | 58°F | 4.54" |
| Jul | 85°F | 63°F | 3.09" |
| Aug | 82°F | 60°F | 3.89" |
| Sep | 76°F | 51°F | 2.21" |
| Oct | 63°F | 37°F | 2.31" |
| Nov | 47°F | 24°F | 1.31" |
| Dec | 35°F | 14°F | 0.88" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Norfolk
Norfolk has 1 hospital, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
7.3%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Faith Health
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education15.2:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Norfolk
Norfolk's student/teacher ratio is 15.2:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 24.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
11
within city limits
Private Schools
5
within city limits
College Degree Rate
24.0%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.2:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Norfolk
Public · 2-year · 2,387 students · in-state tuition $3,930 · 50% graduate · median earnings $46,747 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Missouri National Recreational River, 53 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Norfolk
Norfolk has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Missouri National Recreational River (53 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Missouri National Recreational River
National Recreational River
53 mi awayLewis & Clark National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
94 mi awayPublic Libraries in Norfolk
Norfolk Public Library
308 W Prospect Avenue, Norfolk
Cities Near Norfolk
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Norfolk?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Norfolk FAQ
Is Norfolk, Nebraska affordable?⌄
Norfolk's median rent is $875/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $58,884/year. Median home value is $211,700.
Is Norfolk, Nebraska safe?⌄
Norfolk's violent crime rate was 221 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 987 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Norfolk, Nebraska?⌄
Norfolk has an unemployment rate of 2.9%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Norfolk, Nebraska?⌄
The cost of living in Norfolk is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $875/month and median household income is $58,884/year. The median home value is $211,700. About 36% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Norfolk, Nebraska?⌄
The average commute in Norfolk is 13 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from