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Central City, NE
City in Merrick County, Nebraska.
Population
3,061
Land area
2.4sq mi
People per sq mi
1,257
ZIP codes
0
Central City and its ZIP codes
Central City at a glance
- Central City is about 49 times as dense as Nebraska as a whole.
- It is the 50th most populous of 583 cities and towns in Nebraska.
- Households here earn a median of $73,229 a year, 4% less than the Nebraska figure of $76,475.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $165,300 (31% below Nebraska) and median rent is $677 a month.
Local data for Central City, NE
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Central City, NE, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$73,229
Poverty rate
4.1%
Median home value
$165,300
Median rent
$677/mo
Homeownership
73.9%
Bachelor's or higher
20.0%
Median age
39.9
Average commute
18.4 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (1,429), Irish Americans (329), Swedish Americans (181).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Merrick County. PPP loans are for Central City.
Unemployment rate
2.6%
Sep 2026, +0.4 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$50,619
2,349 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$64,908
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$64.2M
FY 2026, $8,367 per person
How people get to work
Central City, NE, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone81.1%
- Carpooled8.0%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked5.5%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.0%
- Worked from home5.4%
Average one-way commute: 18.4 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Central City, NE, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Top: hail
Storm events since 1996
435
Countywide, mostly hail
Flood insurance policies
54
1.0% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
86° / 14°F
28.5 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone3 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Central City, NE, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
38.8%
U.S. 33.3% +5.5 pts
Diabetes
11.6%
U.S. 12.1% -0.5 pts
Smoking
14.7%
U.S. 12.8% +1.9 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
8.8%
U.S. 11.1% -2.3 pts
Cities near Central City
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| OverlandCensus-designated place | 2.4 mi | 0.9 |
| HordvilleVillage | 6 mi | 0.3 |
| MarquetteVillage | 7.5 mi | 0.2 |
| ArcherCensus-designated place | 8.2 mi | 1 |
| ChapmanVillage | 11 mi | 0.4 |
| ClarksVillage | 11 mi | 0.3 |
| PolkVillage | 11 mi | 0.5 |
| PalmerVillage | 16 mi | 0.5 |
| HamptonVillage | 17 mi | 0.4 |
| FullertonCity | 18 mi | 1.3 |
| AuroraCity | 18 mi | 3.3 |
| PhillipsVillage | 19 mi | 0.3 |
| St. LiboryCensus-designated place | 19 mi | 0.3 |
| BradshawVillage | 21 mi | 0.3 |
| StromsburgCity | 21 mi | 1 |
| BenedictVillage | 22 mi | 0.2 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Central City, NE in?
- Central City is in Merrick County, Nebraska.
- What is the population of Central City, NE?
- About 3,061 people live in Central City, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Central City?
- Nearby places include Overland (2.4 mi), Hordville (6 mi), Marquette (7.5 mi), Archer (8.2 mi), Chapman (11 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023