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Buying a home in Central City, Nebraska

The typical owner-occupied home in Central City is worth about $165,300, 31% below the Nebraska median of $238,600 and 50% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $2,287 a year in property taxes, about 1.38% of their home's value, lower than the Nebraska rate of 1.49%. The median household earns $73,229 a year, so the median home costs 2.3 times the median income (3.1 times for Nebraska). 74% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 64% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Central City at a glance

Central City Nebraska U.S.
Median home value $165,300 $238,600 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $2,287 $3,549 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 1.38% 1.49% 0.94%
Median household income $73,229 $76,475 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 74% 67% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 64% 58% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,244 $1,736 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 17.4% 19.5% 21.0%
Median rent $677 $1,072 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 27.7% 27.9% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1971 1975 1980
Vacant homes 6.6% 7.6% 10.1%
Population 3,061 1,978,707 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Central City

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Central City home of $165,300 with 20% down costs about $1,149 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,424, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.

Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $49,224 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 19% of the median Central City household income of $73,229; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $246,000.

The median rent here is $677 a month, so owning the median home costs about $472 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$33,060
Loan amount$132,240
Principal and interest$890
Property taxes (1.38% a year)$190
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$69
PMI$0
Total per month$1,149

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$5,786
Loan amount$162,306
Principal and interest$1,092
Property taxes (1.38% a year)$190
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$69
FHA mortgage insurance$73
Total per month$1,424

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Questions about home buying in Central City

What is the median home value in Central City?

About $165,300 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Central City?

Homeowners pay a median $2,287 a year, which is about 1.38% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.

What income do you need to buy a home in Central City?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,149 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $49,224 a year.

More about Central City

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data