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City Report · NE

Norfolk

Pop. 26,054·12th most expensive in Nebraska·Norfolk rents are up 5.5% over the past year
Median rent (all units)
$1,291/mo
Year-over-Year
+5.5%
Month-over-Month
+0.4%
vs US Median
-$671
Stable (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Norfolk · $1,291
More affordable than 88% of US cities · National median $1,962/mo
Affordability
26% of income
AFFORDABLE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,291/mo, rent takes about 26% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$52,000/yr
Local median income
$58,884/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Norfolk's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$650
1 BR
$730
2 BR
$960
3 BR
$1,200
4 BR+
$1,450
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$960/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,291 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.

Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: August 17, 2026

Annual cost
$15,492/yr
At $1,291/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Strong Landlord's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are up 5.5% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.
Based on rent-price momentum (+5.5% YoY, +0.4% MoM), not inventory.
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Demographics

Who lives here

Norfolk, NE is majority owner-occupied, has a median income below the national average, 24% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
26,054
Median income
$58,884
Median age
37.3
Renters
39.1%
Age distribution
24.2%
23%
21.9%
13.4%
17.4%
Under 1824.2%
18–3423%
35–5421.9%
55–6413.4%
65+17.4%
Gender
49.7%
50.3%
Male49.7%
Female50.3%
Race & ethnicity
80.5%
15.5%
White80.5%
Black1%
Hispanic15.5%
Asian1%
Other2%
Education (25+)
29.3%
37.9%
24%
No HS diploma8.8%
HS diploma29.3%
Some college37.9%
Bachelor's+24%
Housing tenure
60.9%
39.1%
Owner60.9%
Renter39.1%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Norfolk, NE has changed in 5 years

Income
$52,021 → $58,884
up 13.2%
Population
24,964 → 26,054
up 4.4%
Renter share
38.4% → 39.1%
+0.7 pts
Bachelor's+
25% → 24%
-1.0 pts
Median age
35.8 → 37.3
+1.5 yrs

Median household income rose from $52,021 to $58,884 between 2021 and 2024, a 13.2% shift. The population has grown by 4.4% since 2021, moving from about 24,964 residents to roughly 26,054.

Community

Discussions about Norfolk

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View Norfolk rent history (2015–2026) →
Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Norfolk on your salary?

At $1,291/mo, how Norfolk rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Norfolk rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Norfolk. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Norfolk

About renting in Norfolk, NE

Last updated: August 17, 2026

The median rent in Norfolk is $1,291/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $650/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $960/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $730/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,200/mo.

At 26% of local median household income ($58,884/yr), Norfolk ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 5.5% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Norfolk an affordable city for renters?

Norfolk is considered affordable for renters. At $1,291/mo, rent takes approximately 26% of the local median household income ($58,884/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Norfolk falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Norfolk?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $52,000/year (~$25/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,291/mo in Norfolk. The local median household income is $58,884/yr, meaning the typical Norfolk household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Norfolk?

Rent in Norfolk has increased 5.5% over the past year as of August 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

How does Norfolk rent compare to other cities in Nebraska?

Norfolk is one of the more affordable cities in Nebraska for rent, ranking #12 out of 14 tracked cities at $1,291/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Norfolk?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Norfolk ($1,291/mo): Vermillion ($813/mo), Fremont ($1,209/mo), Sioux City ($1,254/mo).

What percentage of Norfolk residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 39.1% of Norfolk households are renters, while 60.9% are owner-occupied. Norfolk leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Norfolk rent compare to the national average?

Norfolk's median rent of $1,291/mo is $671 (34%) below the US national median of $1,962/mo. Within Nebraska, it ranks #12 out of 14 tracked cities.
Income Affordability
26%
AFFORDABLE

At $1,291/mo, rent takes ~26% of Norfolk's median household income ($58,884/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Norfolk 26%Benchmark 30%
State income tax2.46–5.84%
Run the Norfolk affordability calculator →
Lowest-rent ZIP codes in Norfolk
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Norfolk, NE

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