Housing data for Central City, NE
Central City, NE has an estimated 3,061 residents and 1,374 homes (US Census Bureau, 2020–2024 American Community Survey).
It is a city in Merrick County.
26.1% of households rent.
The median gross rent is $677 a month.
Its population grew measurably since 2015–2019 (+5.4%).
Figures last updated on .
- Residents
- 3,061 (±18)
- Housing units
- 1,374 (±95)
- Households that rent
- 26.1%
- Median gross rent
- $677
- Residents since 2015–2019
- +5.4%
What stands out in Central City
Homes in buildings of 5 or more units: 11.5% (±6.0 points) in Central City, higher than in Merrick County (4.8%).
Households that moved in since 2020: 32.2% (±9.4 points) in Central City, higher than in Merrick County (19.3%).
Households that rent: 26.1% (±6.6 points) in Central City, higher than in Merrick County (17.8%).
- Types of homes in Central City
- How long people stay in Central City
- Renters and owners in Central City
Housing in Central City at a glance
- Median rent: $677 median gross rent a month
- Rent by bedrooms: $697 median gross rent, 2 bedrooms
- Rent burden: 41.8% of renters pay 30% or more of income (Small sample: wide margin of error)
- Renters and owners: 26.1% of households rent
- Income and affordability: $73,229 median household income
- Home values: $165,300 median home value
- Homeowner costs: $1,244 median monthly cost with a mortgage
- Property taxes: $2,287 median real estate taxes a year
- Types of homes: 11.5% of homes are in buildings of 5 or more units
- Bedrooms: 65.3% of homes have 3 or more bedrooms
- Age of homes: 66.7% of homes were built before 1980
- Vacancy rate: 9.2% rental vacancy rate (Small sample: wide margin of error)
- Heating fuel: 52.5% heat with electricity
- Commute and cars: 18.4 minutes average trip to work
- Crime reported to police: 94 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
- Growth: +5.4% residents since 2015–2019
- How long people stay: 32.2% moved in since 2020
- Crowding and facilities: 2.0% of homes have more than 1 person per room (Small sample: wide margin of error)
Central City against Merrick County, its state and the nation
| Central City | Merrick County | Nebraska | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 3,061 (±18) | 7,724 (exact) | 1,978,707 (exact) | 334,922,499 |
| Housing units | 1,374 (±95) | 3,598 (±24) | 863,444 (±628) | 143,775,355 |
| Households that rent | 26.1% (±6.6 points) | 17.8% (±3.0 points) | 33.5% (±0.4 points) | 34.8% |
| Median gross rent | $677 (±$82) | $750 (±$110) | $1,072 (±$8) | $1,413 |
| Median household income | $73,229 (±$14,299) | $68,354 (±$7,261) | $76,475 (±$633) | $80,734 |
| Median home value | $165,300 (±$25,114) | $175,900 (±$10,564) | $238,600 (±$1,365) | $332,700 |
| Median real estate taxes (a year) | $2,287 (±$199) | $2,280 (±$163) | $3,549 (±$22) | $3,119 |
| Built before 1980 | 66.7% (±11.5 points) | 65.9% (±6.5 points) | 57.2% (±0.5 points) | 49.7% |
| Average commute | 18.4 minutes (±4.6) | 21.4 minutes (±2.2) | 19.2 minutes (±0.1) | 26.4 minutes |
| Households with broadband | 88.5% (±5.1 points) | 88.5% (±2.7 points) | 90.6% (±0.2 points) | 91.0% |
| Median age of residents | 39.9 years (±4.0) | 43.2 years (±0.6) | 37.2 years (±0.2) | 38.9 years |
Central City covers 2.4 square miles of land, about 1,257 residents per square mile (Census Bureau Gazetteer).
How Central City has changed since 2015–2019
| 2015–2019 | 2020–2024 | Amount of change | Verdict | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 2,903 (±50) | 3,061 (±18) | +5.4% | Measurable increase |
| Housing units | 1,333 (±90) | 1,374 (±95) | +3.1% | Not a measurable change |
| Median gross rent | $666 (±$84) | $677 (±$82) | +1.7% | Down after inflation |
| Median home value | $106,100 (±$15,296) | $165,300 (±$25,114) | +55.8% | Up after inflation |
| Median household income | $48,447 (±$14,007) | $73,229 (±$14,299) | +51.2% | No measurable change after inflation |
| Median owner cost with a mortgage | $987 (±$96) | $1,244 (±$121) | +26.0% | No measurable change after inflation |
| Median real estate taxes | $1,519 (±$271) | $2,287 (±$199) | +50.6% | Up after inflation |
| Households that rent | 40.2% (±7.2 points) | 26.1% (±6.6 points) | −14.1 percentage points | Measurable decrease |
| Rental vacancy rate | 9.5% (±9.1 points) | 9.2% (±12.0 points) | −0.3 percentage points | Not a measurable change |
The Census Bureau publishes 2015–2019 dollars in 2019 dollars and 2020–2024 dollars in 2024 dollars.
Prices (the CPI-U, US Bureau of Labor Statistics) rose 22.7% between 2019 and 2024, so a dollar figure’s verdict compares the two after raising the earlier one by that much, using the Census Bureau’s test for a difference.
The two periods do not overlap, as the Census Bureau recommends for 5-year estimates.
Crime reported to police in Central City
In 2025, the Central City Police Department reported 94 violent and 63 property crimes per 100,000 residents to the FBI.
Across Merrick County, the departments that report recorded 63 violent and 101 property crimes per 100,000 residents that year.
Places near Central City
| Place | Distance | Median gross rent | Median home value | Households that rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lone Tree Township (Merrick County) | 1.7 mi | — | $176,100 | 8.3% |
| Prairie Island Township | 5.8 mi | — | $425,000 | 0.0% |
| Central Township (Merrick County) | 6.0 mi | — | — | 45.8% |
| Hordville | 6.2 mi | $850 | $95,000 | 16.3% |
| Marquette | 7.4 mi | $1,063 | $108,000 | 22.2% |
| Midland Township (Merrick County) | 7.5 mi | — | $233,300 | 18.6% |
| Mead Township | 9.0 mi | — | — | 22.2% |
| Chapman Township (Merrick County) | 9.9 mi | $1,167 | $190,700 | 14.2% |
Places in Nebraska most like Central City
| Place | Median gross rent | Median home value | Median household income | Households that rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geneva | $734 | $169,100 | $80,398 | 24.0% |
| Gering | $823 | $186,500 | $75,093 | 27.7% |
| Osmond | $688 | $132,400 | $66,250 | 17.4% |
| Oakland | $720 | $151,700 | $68,900 | 27.2% |
| Hartington | $640 | $178,100 | $80,577 | 16.7% |
| Elm Creek | $761 | $191,500 | $79,148 | 28.6% |
Matched on rent, home value, income, the share who rent, the age of the homes, the share in apartment buildings and the commute, each measured against the spread across Nebraska.
HUD Fair Market Rent for Central City, fiscal year 2027
| Studio | 1 bedroom | 2 bedrooms | 3 bedrooms | 4 bedrooms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $754 | $775 | $1,014 | $1,404 | $1,655 |
HUD income limits for Central City, fiscal year 2026
| Household size | Extremely low (30%) | Very low (50%) | Low (80%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $20,300 | $33,800 | $54,050 |
| 2 people | $23,200 | $38,600 | $61,800 |
| 3 people | $27,320 | $43,450 | $69,500 |
| 4 people | $33,000 | $48,250 | $77,200 |
| 5 people | $38,680 | $52,150 | $83,400 |
| 6 people | $44,360 | $56,000 | $89,600 |
| 7 people | $50,040 | $59,850 | $95,750 |
| 8 people | $55,720 | $63,700 | $101,950 |
These are the limits HUD sets for its housing programs in the Merrick County, NE HUD Metro FMR Area, where HUD’s median family income for fiscal year 2026 is $96,500.
A program can use its own limits; tax-credit and local programs often do.
Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates), compared with 2015–2019.
Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.
What you can do on Seayora in Central City
One account for renting, owning, managing and fixing homes, with these figures beside you.
Own or manage a rental?
List it, sign the lease and collect rent online, with the figures for Central City beside you.
Create a landlord account · See what landlords get
Looking for a place to rent?
Browse homes for rent near Central City, save the ones you like and apply online.
Browse rentals · Create a renter account
Do repairs, renovations or maintenance?
Get found by owners and renters near Central City, and send estimates and invoices from your phone.
Questions about Central City
What is the average rent in Central City, NE?
The Census Bureau publishes the median rather than the average: the median gross rent in Central City is $677 (±$82) a month (2020–2024 American Community Survey), so half of renting households pay less and half pay more.
How much is a two-bedroom apartment in Central City?
The median gross rent for a two-bedroom home in Central City, NE is $697 (±$80) a month (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
How many renters are there in Central City?
Central City has an estimated 335 (±92) renting households, 26.1% of its occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
What is the median household income in Central City?
The median household income in Central City is $73,229 (±$14,299) a year (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
What is the average home value in Central City, NE?
The Census Bureau publishes the median: $165,300 (±$25,114) for owner-occupied homes in Central City (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
What is the average mortgage payment in Central City?
The Census Bureau publishes total owner costs rather than the mortgage alone: the median for owners with a mortgage in Central City, NE is $1,244 (±$121) a month, including taxes, insurance and utilities.
Is Central City growing?
In Central City, the number of residents went from 2,903 in 2015–2019 to 3,061 in 2020–2024 (+5.4%), a measurable increase.
Sources
- Demographic and Housing Estimates (DP05), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Central City city, Nebraska
- Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Central City city, Nebraska
- Selected Economic Characteristics (DP03), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Central City city, Nebraska
- Median Real Estate Taxes Paid by Mortgage Status (B25103), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Central City city, Nebraska
- Selected Social Characteristics (DP02), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Central City city, Nebraska
- Total Population (B01003), 2015–2019 ACS 5-year estimates — Central City city, Nebraska
- Median Gross Rent (B25064), 2015–2019 ACS 5-year estimates — Central City city, Nebraska
- HUD Fair Market Rents, fiscal year 2027: Merrick County, NE HUD Metro FMR Area
- HUD Income Limits, fiscal year 2026: Merrick County, NE HUD Metro FMR Area
- FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program, Crime Data Explorer: Central City Police Department (ORI NB0610100)
- FBI: Uniform Crime Reporting statistics and their proper use
- Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), US city average, all items, US Bureau of Labor Statistics: annual averages 2019 and 2024
- US Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer Files
To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) for Central City city, Nebraska (place:08535, in state:31).
Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).
The 2015–2019 figures are B01003_001E, B01003_001M, B25064_001E, B25064_001M from the 2019 release.
The API needs a free key.
DP05_0001E, DP05_0001M, DP04_0001E, DP04_0001M, DP04_0047PE, DP04_0047PM, DP04_0134E, DP04_0134M, DP03_0062E, DP03_0062M, DP04_0089E, DP04_0089M
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.
Figures last updated on .