City profile · Nebraska · Census ACS 2023

McCook, NE

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

7,360
Residents
$51,815
Median income
$137,400
Median home
$961
Median rent (state)

McCook - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, McCook places in the 22nd percentile for household income and the 60th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

22nd
percentile, household income
23rd
percentile, home value
11th
percentile, median rent
60th
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: McCook, NE

McCook is a small town in Nebraska, home to 7,360 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. McCook households earn a median of $51,815 annually, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 11.4%. McCook's housing stock carries a median value of $137,400, and the median resident age is 40.7 years. About 26.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 62.4% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 17 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Building Boom), up 325% from five years earlier. McCook reports a comparatively low crime rate: FBI UCR figures show 1083.4 crimes per 100,000 residents, below the national average (reporting is voluntary across agencies, so treat this as reporting activity rather than a definitive danger score).

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. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $961 per month. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Nebraska's average monthly utility costs around $207 (state average). FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 20.3 out of 100 (Very Low).

Population

7,360 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Nebraska

Median Household Income

$51,815 /yr

Poverty 11.4%

Cost of Living Index (state)

90.1 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Nebraska average

How does McCook compare to other US cities?

Here's how McCook stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 22% higher than other cities
Home value 23% pricier than other cities
Median rent 11% pricier than other cities
Safety 60% 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: McCook ranks #21 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 McCook 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 McCook near the bottom of Nebraska's cities

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

Median Household Income
#353 of 439
20th percentile in Nebraska
Median Gross Rent
#184 of 450
0th percentile in Nebraska
Median Home Value
#168 of 438
62nd percentile in Nebraska
Poverty Rate
#95 of 450
78th percentile in Nebraska
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#99 of 450
78th 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.

22ndIncome percentile
60thSafety percentile

22nd percentile nationally for median household income · 60th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

McCook's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

McCook'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 55 Avg. percentile National median
McCook'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 McCook's home value compares nationally

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

$137,400 Among the most affordable more affordable than 77% 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%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $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. McCook $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 - McCook, NE McCook, NE's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not McCook, 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 McCook, NE median $51,815/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%
McCook, 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 McCook, NE. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 26.8%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 11.4%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 62.4%

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

Population
7,360
Median Income
$51,815
Median Home Value
$137,400
Median Age
40.7
Poverty Rate
11.4%
Labor force participation
62.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
26.8%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
1083.4
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
41.7
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1041.7
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.

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
7,100 residents7,200 residents7,300 residents7,400 residents7,500 residents 202020212022202320242025 7,414 residents 7,157 residents ▼ -3.5%
McCook's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
17
housing units authorized
Single-Family
11
detached homes
Multifamily
6
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
2.3
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 4
2020 5
2021 6
2022 5
2023 5
2024 17

Permit volume increased 325% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
86.6%
Carpool
3.7%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
2.6%
Work from Home
6.1%
Other
1.0%

Based on 3,665 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 McCook 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
20.3 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Nebraska

Nebraska City
7,287 people
Crete
7,521 people
Seward
7,665 people
Blair
7,868 people
Plattsmouth
6,680 people
Alliance
8,089 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to McCook's 7,360 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Bremen, GA
7,364 people
Gorham, ME
7,365 people
Cos Cob, CT
7,354 people
Forest City, NC
7,368 people
Oroville East, CA
7,369 people
Pea Ridge, AR
7,348 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to McCook's $51,815 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Frankfort, MI
$51,813 median income
Peebles, OH
$51,813 median income
Virginia, IL
$51,818 median income
Elida, NM
$51,818 median income
Hallsburg, TX
$51,818 median income
Barstow, CA
$51,811 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - McCook, 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 McCook, NE - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 89.3% 6.7% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 6.3% White 89.3% Black or African American 0.7% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.8% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 2.5% Two or more races 6.7% 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 McCook 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
McCook (this city) 7,360 $51,815
Nebraska City 7,287 $67,993
Crete 7,521 $76,258
Seward 7,665 $70,000
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NE FBI UCR Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about McCook, NE?

What is the population of McCook, NE? +

McCook, NE has a population of 7,360 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in McCook, NE? +

Median annual household income in McCook runs $51,815, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in McCook? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for McCook; 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 McCook, NE safe? +

McCook has a total crime rate of 1083.4 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 McCook, NE? +

Homes in McCook carry a median value of $137,400, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, 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.