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Broken Bow, NE

City in Custer County, Nebraska.

Population

3,502

Land area

2sq mi

People per sq mi

1,734

ZIP codes

0

Broken Bow and its ZIP codes

Full map

Broken Bow at a glance

  • Broken Bow is about 67 times as dense as Nebraska as a whole.
  • It is the 43rd most populous of 583 cities and towns in Nebraska.
  • Households here earn a median of $60,129 a year, 21% less than the Nebraska figure of $76,475.
  • A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $133,200 (44% below Nebraska) and median rent is $876 a month.

Local data for Broken Bow, NE

Counts from official public data

Housing and community stats

Broken Bow, NE, American Community Survey 2020-2024

Full profile

Median household income

$60,129

Poverty rate

8.8%

Median home value

$133,200

Median rent

$876/mo

Homeownership

56.7%

Bachelor's or higher

20.7%

Median age

36.6

Average commute

8.8 min

Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (1,382), Irish Americans (527), Mexican Americans (224).

Home values and rentsIncome, education and commute

Economy and federal money

Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Custer County. PPP loans are for Broken Bow.

Details

Unemployment rate

2.4%

Aug 2026, 0.0 pts in a year

Average annual pay

$51,915

4,544 jobs, 2025

Income per person

$63,791

BEA, 2024

Federal spending

$114M

FY 2026, $10,807 per person

Custer County economyFederal spending

How people get to work

Broken Bow, NE, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates

  • Drove alone83.7%
  • Carpooled8.9%
  • Public transit0.0%
  • Walked1.9%
  • Bicycle1.0%
  • Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.5%
  • Worked from home4.1%

Average one-way commute: 8.8 minutes for people who do not work from home.

Environment and hazard risk

Broken Bow, NE, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA

Full report

Natural hazard risk

Very Low

Top: winter weather

Storm events since 1996

1,280

Countywide, mostly hail

Flood insurance policies

39

0.4% of homes, county

July high / Jan low

86° / 12°F

23.0 inches of rain a year

Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone5 historic places

Health statistics

Share of adults in Broken Bow, NE, CDC PLACES estimates

All 40 measures

Obesity

40.5%

U.S. 33.3% +7.2 pts

Diabetes

12.0%

U.S. 12.1% about the same

Smoking

15.0%

U.S. 12.8% +2.2 pts

Uninsured (18-64)

9.6%

U.S. 11.1% -1.5 pts

Cities near Broken Bow

NameDistanceLand area (sq mi)
MernaVillage8.2 mi0.5
BerwynVillage8.3 mi0.3
WestervilleCensus-designated place14 mi0.1
AnsleyVillage16 mi0.6
CallawayVillage16 mi0.7
AnselmoVillage19 mi0.3
OcontoVillage19 mi0.2
SargentCity22 mi1.1
Mason CityVillage22 mi0.5
ComstockVillage23 mi0.3
ArcadiaVillage27 mi0.6
EddyvilleVillage27 mi0.3
ArnoldVillage29 mi0.7
TaylorVillage29 mi0.3

Frequently asked questions

What county is Broken Bow, NE in?
Broken Bow is in Custer County, Nebraska.
What is the population of Broken Bow, NE?
About 3,502 people live in Broken Bow, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
What cities are near Broken Bow?
Nearby places include Merna (8.2 mi), Berwyn (8.3 mi), Westerville (14 mi), Ansley (16 mi), Callaway (16 mi).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023