City profile · Nebraska · Census ACS 2023

Broken Bow, NE

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Broken Bow - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

3,524
Residents
$56,438
Median income
$124,600
Median home
$961
Median rent (state)

Broken Bow - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Broken Bow lands in the 30th percentile for household income and the 95th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

30th
percentile, household income
19th
percentile, home value
11th
percentile, median rent
95th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Broken Bow, NE

Nebraska's Broken Bow is a small town, with 3,524 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. The typical household in Broken Bow brings in $56,438 a year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 8.2%. Typical homes in Broken Bow are valued around $124,600, and the median resident age is 41.3 years. Educational attainment runs 20.4% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 60.2% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 10 residential building permits were authorized in Broken Bow (Building Boom), up 150% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. Broken Bow reports a comparatively low crime rate: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 225.3 incidents per 100,000 residents, below the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). NOAA climate normals record an annual average temperature of 48.0°F with 23.0 inches of precipitation per year and 29.5 inches of snowfall.

Living costs in Nebraska run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Nebraska scores 90.1 (Well Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $961 monthly. Monthly utility costs average around $207 across Nebraska, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 28.0 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very Low).

Population

3,524 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Nebraska

Median Household Income

$56,438 /yr

Poverty 8.2%

Cost of Living Index (state)

90.1 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Nebraska average

How does Broken Bow compare to other US cities?

Where Broken Bow sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 30% higher than other cities
Home value 19% pricier than other cities
Median rent 11% pricier than other cities
Safety 95% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

Zoom in to just Nebraska and the picture shifts: Broken Bow ranks #1 of 44 Nebraska cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Broken Bow against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Nebraska only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Nebraska-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Broken Bow near the bottom of Nebraska's cities

Among the 450 Nebraska cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Broken Bow ranks #184 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Broken Bow only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#303 of 439
31st percentile in Nebraska
Median Gross Rent
#184 of 450
0th percentile in Nebraska
Median Home Value
#190 of 438
57th percentile in Nebraska
Poverty Rate
#161 of 450
63rd percentile in Nebraska
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#223 of 450
50th percentile in Nebraska

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Nebraska only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

30thIncome percentile
95thSafety percentile

30th percentile nationally for median household income · 95th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Broken Bow's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Broken Bow's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 70 Avg. percentile National median
Broken Bow's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Broken Bow's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$124,600 Among the most affordable more affordable than 81% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). This entry sits in this band. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Broken Bow $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Broken Bow, NE Broken Bow, NE's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Broken Bow, NE-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Broken Bow, NE median $56,438/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Broken Bow, NE's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Broken Bow, NE. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 20.4%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 8.2%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 60.2%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
3,524
Median Income
$56,438
Median Home Value
$124,600
Median Age
41.3
Poverty Rate
8.2%
Labor force participation
60.2%
Bachelor's Degree+
20.4%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
225.3
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
84.5
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
140.8
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Climate

Avg Temperature
48.0°F
Annual Precipitation
23.0"
Annual Snowfall
29.5"

Schools

Total Schools
5
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
3,500 residents3,520 residents3,540 residents3,560 residents3,580 residents 202020212022202320242025 3,521 residents 3,507 residents ▼ -0.4%
Broken Bow's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
10
housing units authorized
Single-Family
2
detached homes
Multifamily
8
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
2.8
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 4
2020 4
2021 9
2022 9
2023 0
2024 10

Permit volume increased 150% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
81.7%
Carpool
10.5%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.5%
Work from Home
6.3%
Other
1.0%

Based on 1,517 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Nebraska - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$100
avg/month
Natural Gas
$65
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$42
avg/month
Total Utilities
$207
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Nebraska state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Nebraska state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Broken Bow sits in

Cost of Living Index
90.1
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$961/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
28.0 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Nebraska

West Point
3,479 people
O'Neill
3,574 people
Auburn
3,468 people
Gothenburg
3,436 people
Fairbury
3,905 people
Valley
3,113 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Broken Bow's 3,524 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Planada, CA
3,524 people
Hainesville, IL
3,524 people
Avondale Estates, GA
3,525 people
Northfield, OH
3,525 people
Beaver Dam, KY
3,526 people
Fairview CDP (Westchester County), NY
3,522 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Broken Bow's $56,438 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Tignall, GA
$56,438 median income
Goodland, IN
$56,438 median income
Ralls, TX
$56,438 median income
Madison, MN
$56,435 median income
Van Etten, NY
$56,435 median income
Kentland, IN
$56,442 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Broken Bow, NE Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Broken Bow, NE - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 91.8% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 5.9% White 91.8% Black or African American 1.3% Asian 0.3% American Indian 0.6% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 2.4% Two or more races 3.6% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Broken Bow compares to nearby Nebraska cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Broken Bow (this city) 3,524 $56,438
West Point 3,479 $63,977
O'Neill 3,574 $66,458
Auburn 3,468 $58,674
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NE FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Broken Bow, NE?

What is the population of Broken Bow, NE? +

Broken Bow, NE has a population of 3,524 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Broken Bow, NE? +

Median annual household income in Broken Bow runs $56,438, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Broken Bow? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Broken Bow; the closest available measure is the Nebraska state average, a cost of living index of 90.1 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Nebraska vary by metro area.

Is Broken Bow, NE safe? +

Broken Bow has a total crime rate of 225.3 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Broken Bow, NE? +

The median home value in Broken Bow is $124,600, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Broken Bow? +

Climate normals put Broken Bow's yearly average temperature at 48.0°F, 23.0 inches of precipitation, and 29.5 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.