Broken Bow is a city in Custer County, Nebraska, United States. As of the 2020 census, Broken Bow had a population of 3,506. It is the county seat of Custer County.

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

How Broken Bow ranks

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#1Shortest commute in NE #3Most walkable in NE #2Safest in NE All NE rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code68822

Area code308

Living in Broken Bow

Safety in Broken Bow

A⁺

Safety Grade A+

Broken Bow reports less crime per resident than 95% of the U.S. towns and cities we grade.

Violent crime per 1,000

Broken Bow 1.1

Nebraska 2.2

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Broken Bow 0.3

Nebraska 14

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Broken Bow

Full picture →

61% of Broken Bow’s working residents work right in town. The top destinations are Broken Bow (3%), Lincoln (3%) and Omaha (3%). Half commute less than 1 miles.

Broken Bow

Lincoln

Omaha

Kearney

61%Work in townlive and work in Broken Bow 1 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 2,834Jobs based herea job hub

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Broken Bow →

Health in Broken Bow

B⁻

Health Grade B−

Healthier than 52% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates, and 78% of towns with similar incomes.

Compared with Nebraska

8worse than NE

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 24 are too close to call.

Conditions 6▼ 6 close Habits 1▼ 3 close Care 1▼ 6 close Mind all close Everyday needs all close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

7.8%More adults with COPDNE 6.1% · worse 7.7%More adults with heart diseaseNE 6.1% · worse 3.9%More adults who have had a strokeNE 3.1% · worse

Care nearby

Jennie M Melham Memorial Medical CenterBroken Bow · 0.5 mi · ER · rural critical access

Heartland Health Center - Ravenna ClinicRavenna · 46 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careNo shortage

DentalNo shortage

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Broken Bow · CMS · HRSAHealth in Broken Bow →

Natural hazards in Broken Bow

Very high

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 80% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🌪️ Tornadoes

0Does Broken Bow flood?no paid flood claims on record 5Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Broken Bow

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Broken Bow →

Climate in Broken Bow

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Broken Bow has cold winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 87°, a January night drops to 13°, and about 30 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

39° / 15°Winter

61° / 35°Spring

84° / 58°Summer

64° / 36°Fall

How much snow does Broken Bow get?About 30 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Oct 1, with the last in spring around May 10.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+1.1° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Broken Bow →

Schools in Broken Bow

All Broken Bow schools →

B⁻

School Grade B-

The public schools Broken Bow’s kids attend trail 53% of Nebraska’s districts on state tests. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.

#25Best public schoolsof 57 in NE

DistrictBROKEN BOW PUBLIC SCHOOLSSchools5

North Park Elementary School BElementary · Grades PK–5 · 376 students Broken Bow Middle School CMiddle · Grades 6–8 · 166 students Broken Bow High School B-High · Grades 9–12 · 234 students New Discoveries PreschoolPrekindergarten · Grades PK · 73 students Early Childhood ServicesPrekindergarten · Grades PK · 43 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results, graded within NE. Ratings are from neighbors.