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Chadron, NE

Full City Profile · Nebraska · Dawes County County

3.6 /5.0
B+ Good
5,207 Population 1,335/sq mi density
$54,026 Median Income $26,442 per capita
$153,300 Home Value $190,607 Zillow
$1,044 Median Rent 29.0% income on rent
48°F Avg Temperature 302 sunny days/yr
184 Violent Crime/100K 1,910 property/100K
B+
Overall
3.6 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
A
Economy
4.1 / 5.0
$54,026 median income, 1.0% unemployment
A+
Affordability
5.0 / 5.0
$153,300 home value, $1,044/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
184 violent crimes/100K
A
Education
4.3 / 5.0
41.4% bachelor's degree or higher
Chadron experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 48°F (9°C). Winters average 25°F in January while summers reach 74°F in July. The area gets 302 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 18.8 inches. The area receives 50.3 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 32.

Temperature

25°F Jan (-4°C) 74°F Jul (23°C)
Annual Average48.0°F
11% below US avg
January Average25°F (-4°C)
July Average74°F (23°C)
Sunny Days302 days/yr

Geography

Elevation3,381 ft (1,031 m)
Area3.9 sq mi (10.0 km²)
Population Density1,335/sq mi
Coordinates42.8260°N, 103.0025°W
TimezoneAmerica/Chicago
CountyDawes County County
Nearest AirportWestern Nebraska Regional/William B Heilig Field (BFF)
72 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 18.8"
51% below US avg
Snowfall 50.3"
Wettest Month (Jun) 2.80"
Driest Month (Jan) 0.39"

Air Quality

AQI Median32.0
RatingGood

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskVery Low
Risk Score5.6 / 100
Social Vulnerability11.4 / 100
Community Resilience35.9 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Very Low
Earthquake Very Low
Wildfire Relatively Low
Flood Very Low
Hail Relatively Low
Strong Wind Very Low
Heat Wave Very Low
Winter Weather Relatively Moderate
Lightning Relatively Low
Ice Storm Very Low
Drought Relatively Moderate
Cold Wave Relatively Low
Landslide Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

26 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M4.0. Most recent: M3.6 on Mar 9, 2025.

Jan 28, 1990 8 km N of Manderson-White Horse Creek, South Dakota M4.0 68 km
May 25, 2003 10 km SSW of Martin, South Dakota M4.0 103 km
Apr 9, 1996 34 km SW of Edgemont, South Dakota M3.7 94 km
Feb 6, 1996 13 km WNW of Hill City, South Dakota M3.7 141 km
Mar 9, 2025 7 km W of Fairburn, South Dakota M3.6 98 km
Oct 18, 2012 28 km NW of Hyannis, Nebraska M3.6 110 km
Dec 12, 2013 10 km WSW of Hermosa, South Dakota M3.5 113 km
Mar 26, 2021 10 km E of Edgemont, South Dakota M3.4 78 km
Mar 2, 1990 7 km N of Manderson-White Horse Creek, South Dakota M3.2 67 km
Feb 20, 1993 21 km WSW of Cody, Nebraska M3.1 126 km
Jun 18, 1998 23 km S of Chadron, Nebraska M3.1 23 km
May 3, 1996 32 km SSW of Edgemont, South Dakota M3.1 87 km
Feb 7, 2007 11 km WSW of Wasta, South Dakota M3.1 139 km
Jun 29, 2024 22 km ESE of Hill View Heights, Wyoming M3.0 127 km
Nov 2, 1992 5 km ESE of Lusk, Wyoming M3.0 114 km
Jan 16, 2012 25 km E of Buffalo Gap, South Dakota M3.0 74 km
Jun 16, 2024 7 km NNE of Buffalo Gap, South Dakota M2.9 83 km
Mar 10, 2011 22 km N of Van Tassell, Wyoming M2.9 89 km
Jan 5, 2004 28 km SSE of Hill View Heights, Wyoming M2.8 118 km
Apr 4, 2024 19 km SW of Interior, South Dakota M2.8 111 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Tornado History

245 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF3. Total: 1 fatality, 68 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Jun 4, 1994 EF3 35 km 0
May 5, 1993 EF3 47 km 0
Jun 6, 1963 EF3 94 km 0
Aug 6, 1956 EF3 94 km 0
Jul 2, 2020 EF2 47 km 0
Jul 26, 2016 EF2 57 km 0
Jun 22, 2012 EF2 74 km 0
Jun 4, 1999 EF2 28 km 1
Jun 4, 1999 EF2 42 km 0
Aug 17, 1983 EF2 42 km 0
Jun 20, 1983 EF2 96 km 0
Jun 19, 1983 EF2 42 km 0
Jun 5, 1982 EF2 85 km 0
Jun 4, 1982 EF2 33 km 0
May 23, 1982 EF2 41 km 0
Mar 29, 1982 EF2 94 km 0
Aug 10, 1980 EF2 71 km 0
Jun 25, 1978 EF2 64 km 0
Jul 28, 1976 EF2 46 km 0
Jun 25, 1975 EF2 89 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950–2024)

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: WELLNITZ (77,277 ac, 2012).

Year Name Acres Distance
2012 WELLNITZ 77,277 32 km
2012 WEST ASH 55,228 21 km
2017 LEGION LAKE 54,868 99 km
1989 FT.ROBINSON 46,887 50 km
2006 SIOUX COUNTY COMPLEX 39,567 67 km
2012 DOUTHIT 29,036 48 km
2006 DAWES COUNTY COMPLEX 27,923 14 km
2007 STAMPEDE 22,848 40 km
1985 FLINT HILLS 21,062 79 km
1985 YELLOWBEAR 19,212 91 km
2016 FREEMAN 19,121 59 km
1985 4TH OFJULY 18,177 40 km
2012 HAY CANYON 17,815 53 km
1996 UNNAMED 14,279 91 km
2016 INDIAN CANYON 13,791 78 km
2000 HASNOHORSE 13,420 86 km
2022 CASINO 11,583 35 km
2000 WARBONNET 11,504 74 km
1987 GRASS CK3 11,125 60 km
2001 WEST HELL CANYON 11,097 81 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 25°F (-4°C) 0.4 in Coldest, Driest
February 29°F (-2°C) 0.4 in
March 37°F (3°C) 0.8 in
April 46°F (8°C) 1.9 in
May 56°F (14°C) 2.7 in
June 67°F (19°C) 2.8 in Wettest
July 74°F (23°C) 2.4 in Warmest
August 73°F (23°C) 1.5 in
September 62°F (17°C) 1.4 in
October 49°F (10°C) 0.8 in
November 35°F (2°C) 0.4 in
December 26°F (-3°C) 0.4 in

Chadron has a seasonal temperature swing of 49°F / from 25°F in January to 74°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 16.0 inches, with June being the wettest month (2.8") and January the driest (0.4").

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