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Central City, Nebraska

city · Merrick County

At a glance

3,061
Population
$165,300
Median home value (all homes)
46% below U.S. median
$207,395
Typical market value
Zillow, 2026-07
$677/mo
Median rent
50% below U.S. median
$73,229
Median household income
7% below U.S. median
18.4 min
Average commute
88.5%
Homes with broadband
99.87%
Locations with fiber available
0%
Unemployment

Cost of living (Clay Affordability Index)

CAI 85 — 15% below the national average. how it's computed

Housing28% below
Goods & services6% below
Utilities5% above
Taxes30% below
Insurance7% below
Commute cost34% below
For business: Nebraska is CBII band 2/5 · time to build band 1/5. See state page for the breakdown.

Living here

Nearest 4-year college28 mi
Nearest community college25 mi
Nearest technical college71 mi
High school graduates90.3%
College graduates20%

Doing business here

Economic development contacts, most local first:

state Nebraska Dept. of Economic Development
Our mission is to provide quality leadership and services that enable Nebraska’s communities, businesses, and people to succeed in a global economy, with programs and resources for starting and growing a business, housing, and economic recovery.
state Union Pacific Railroad Industrial Dev
Union Pacific's Industrial Development team provides guidance and rail project management to help businesses build, expand, or locate rail-served sites on Union Pacific’s expansive network, connecting them to the global economy.
State sales taxYes
State income taxYes
Right-to-work stateYes

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