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Living in
North Platte.
About
Life in North Platte
North Platte is a community of 23,030 people in Nebraska. The median household income is $57,805, median rent runs about $921 per month, and median home values are around $169,100. Unemployment is low at 2.6%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
North Platte at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
40.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
15.4%
Foreign-Born
3.5%
Broadband Internet
89.3%
of households
Population Growth
-3.8%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics3.5% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in North Platte: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In North Platte, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (44.4%), and 4.5% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
23.0%
of residents
65 and Older
20.0%
of residents
Households with Kids
28.4%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
38.1%
of households
Married Couples
36.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.13
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 14% below NE average
Rent, home values, and income in North Platte
In North Platte, rent runs 14% below the NE average, and home values are 29% below the NE average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
46.1%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
18.0%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$2,631
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
58.5%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1966
median year built
Vacant Homes
9.3%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $217,300 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for NE
Unemployment in North Platte
Unemployment in Lincoln County, which includes North Platte, is close to the NE average.
Unemployment rate
North Platte: Lincoln County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Lincoln County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What North Platte Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute13.3 min avg
How North Platte residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In North Platte, most residents drive alone to work (87%), and 92% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 4 mi
North Platte Regional Airport Lee Bird Field (LBF)
Regional airport · few flights15k 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 65% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in North Platte runs 65% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
116.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,596.4
per 100,000 residents
About average (1,552 national, 2025)
North Platte Police Department
Natural DisastersHail most common — 25 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
48.6 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Lincoln County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Lincoln County, which includes North Platte, the most common type is hail, with 25 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 25 | Hail | $520,000 |
| 2024 | 25 | Thunderstorm Wind | $2.1M |
| 2023 | 30 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1,000 |
| 2022 | 34 | Drought | $101,000 |
| 2021 | 22 | Drought | $20,000 |
| 2020 | 26 | Hail | None reported |
| 2019 | 30 | Hail | $271,000 |
| 2018 | 18 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
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
Lincoln County, county-wide
Air Quality34 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2023)
Data not yet available
Climate87°F summers, 13°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
North Platte has warm summers (avg high 87°F) and very cold winters (avg low 13°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
64°/34°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
87°/59°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
66°/35°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
42°/13°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
22.2"
Annual Snowfall
29.6"
Hot Days/Year
39
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
175
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
88
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 41°F | 12°F | 0.39" |
| Feb | 44°F | 15°F | 0.57" |
| Mar | 55°F | 24°F | 1.00" |
| Apr | 63°F | 33°F | 2.29" |
| May | 73°F | 44°F | 3.35" |
| Jun | 84°F | 55°F | 3.54" |
| Jul | 90°F | 61°F | 3.18" |
| Aug | 87°F | 59°F | 2.56" |
| Sep | 80°F | 48°F | 1.61" |
| Oct | 66°F | 34°F | 1.65" |
| Nov | 53°F | 21°F | 0.49" |
| Dec | 42°F | 13°F | 0.45" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in North Platte
North Platte has 1 hospital, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
7.0%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Great Plains 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.
Education15.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in North Platte
North Platte's student/teacher ratio is 15.8:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 20.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
11
within city limits
Private Schools
4
within city limits
College Degree Rate
20.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in North Platte
Public · 2-year · 937 students · in-state tuition $3,720 · 42% graduate · median earnings $43,212 (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: Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail, 58 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for North Platte
North Platte has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail (58 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
58 mi awayPublic Libraries in North Platte
North Platte Public Library
120 West 4th Street, North Platte
Cities Near North Platte
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to North Platte?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
North Platte FAQ
Is North Platte, Nebraska affordable?⌄
North Platte's median rent is $921/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $58,097/year. Median home value is $169,100.
Is North Platte, Nebraska safe?⌄
North Platte's violent crime rate was 116 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1596 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in North Platte, Nebraska?⌄
Lincoln County, which includes North Platte, has an unemployment rate of 2.7%, which is strong — well below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in North Platte, Nebraska?⌄
The cost of living in North Platte is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $921/month and median household income is $58,097/year. The median home value is $169,100. About 46% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in North Platte, Nebraska?⌄
The average commute in North Platte 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