McCook, NE — Momentum Score, Home Values & Best-For

All states·Nebraska·McCook

Red Willow County · population 7,212

AffordabilityShrinkingSmall-town feel
OverviewCost of livingMoving guide
View watchlist →
65
Rising
Momentum score · 0–100

Where McCook stands

At or near all-time high. population shrinking 0.8% per year.

Median home $179,375
1-year +3.1%
5-yr CAGR +5.1%
vs 5-yr peak +0.0%
Population -0.8%/yr

Home value trajectory · last 10 years

Zillow ZHVI · monthly
peak 2026-04$179k$95k$126k$156k$187k201620182020202220242026

Lifestyle scores

🚶
Walkability
25/100
Very car-dependent
Estimated from population density. Higher = denser, more amenities within walking distance.
🚉
Public transit
10/100
Transit limited
Curated list of major US transit systems + population-based estimate. Higher = real subway/rail/bus options.
💻
Remote work fit
56/100
Workable for remote workers
Composite of city size, housing cost, state tax structure, and region's remote-work track record.

Scores are heuristic estimates from population density, state, and known transit/walkable cities. Not based on a paid Walk Score / Transit Score API — see methodology for the formula.

How the momentum score breaks down

methodology →
Home YoY
65 · w22%
Home 5-yr CAGR
65 · w22%
Distance from peak
90 · w18%
Population growth
33 · w16%
Home 10-yr CAGR
66 · w10%
Long thesis

McCook offers a $179,375 median home with +5.1% annualized 5-year appreciation. Affordability + positive trend is one of the better risk/reward setups in US residential — small downside, room to compound.

Short thesis

McCook's population is shrinking 0.8% per year. Housing demand has to come from somewhere — if people are leaving, the buyer pool is shrinking faster than the inventory. That eventually shows up in price.

About McCook

McCook is a city in Red Willow County, Nebraska, with an estimated population of 7,212. The population has contracted 0.8% per year on average since 2020. The median home value in McCook is $179,375 as of 2026-04, up 3.1% over the last 12 months. Over the last five years, home values have averaged +5.1% annual growth, with prices at or near the 5-year peak. The composite momentum score is 65 of 100 (Rising). The market is healthy with prices supported by underlying demand.

▲ Bull case

●Affordable AND rising: median home $179,375 with positive recent direction — rare combination most of the country can’t offer.
●Healthy 5-year run: +5.1% annualized over 5 years, outpacing US inflation.
●Quiet strength: +3.1% over the trailing year — not a melt-up, but the market is bid.
●Held the highs: currently +0.0% from the 5-year peak — this market refused to give back gains.

▼ Bear case

●Flat or shrinking population: -0.8% per year. Housing demand has to come from somewhere — verify the source.
○Thin housing market: small population means fewer transactions and slower resale. Liquidity risk on exit.

Playbook

Buyer

You're not in a frenzy but you're not getting bargains either. Make a competitive offer with normal inspection terms. Don't lowball — the listing will move with or without you.

Seller

Price at fair market value; expect movement in 30-45 days. Don't get clever with terms (rent-back, contingencies) — buyers in a Rising market have options.

Investor

Appreciation tailwind exists but cash flow requires discipline on price. Run the numbers conservatively and confirm rent comps before committing.

Local safety & alerts

No active National Weather Service alerts for Red Willow County right now.

NWS active alerts (NE)Nebraska Emergency ManagementHow to prepare (NWS)

Public-safety links are official .gov sources, not curated by us. Red Willow County routes NWS alerts; check the state EM portal for non-weather emergencies.

Cities like McCook

Ralston, NE68 · RisingLa Vista, NE68 · RisingAlliance, NE64 · RisingScottsbluff, NE67 · Rising

Run the numbers for McCook

ToolCan I afford McCook?Income → city shortlistToolROI on a McCook rentalCap rate, cash-on-cash, DSCRToolCompare McCook to anywhereSide-by-side up to 3 citiesToolMcCook cost-of-livingEquivalent income elsewhere

Sources: Zillow ZHVI (home values), Zillow ZORI (rents), US Census ACS + place population. Updated when source agencies publish revisions.

Climate & natural-disaster risk

Winter (Jan)
35° / 14°
avg high / low
Summer (Jul)
86° / 63°
avg high / low
Sunny days/yr
221
~61% of year
Annual precip
23″ rain
28″ snow
Disaster risk (1=very low, 5=very high)
Hurricane
Very low
Tornado
Very high
Wildfire
Very low
Earthquake
Very low
Flood
Moderate

State-level averages from NOAA Climate Normals (1991-2020) and FEMA National Risk Index. City-level conditions can vary significantly within a state.

Current weather

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7-day forecast on weather.gov →

Find rentals & listings

Open current McCook listings on the major real-estate sites.

Links open the live search on the destination site — results are always current.

Local sports teams

Major professional teams the Kansas City area cheers for. Detailed stats, schedules, and player pages on intherafters.com.

Local economy & environment

Humidity
65%
Moderate climate
Median household income
$71,700
Nebraska state median
Top industries (state-level)
AgricultureInsurance (Berkshire)Manufacturing

Humidity is annual average relative humidity (NOAA). Income is Census ACS 5-year estimate. Industries are largest employment sectors statewide (BLS); the local mix in a given city may vary.

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