Chimney Rock, 1908
Bayard’s story
138 years in pictures
Census counts: 261 in 1910, a peak of 2,127 in 1920, 1,140 in 2020. The archive holds 7 old photos and papers going back to 1908 and 3 maps from 1898 on.
- 1888Bayard is settled
BayardNE
A town of 1,087, settled in 1888.
Chimney Rock National Historic Site · Photo: Mike Tigas from Columbia, MO, United States · CC BY 2.0
Population
1,087
2025 Census estimate · −3.9% since 2020
Typical home
$148K
−2.6% in a year
Household income
$68K
median
Median age
38.8
years
Jobs based here
113
A commuter town
Is Bayard a good place to live?
Bayard’s best subject grades are an A for cost of living and an A+ for civic life; its weakest is a D for schools. Only 13 of Nebraska’s 131 towns score lower on health. On civic life, just 4 of Nebraska’s 127 towns do better. Bayard has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
What makes Bayard stand out
Where Bayard beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
Typical home value
Bayard$148K
Nebraska$278K
Cost of livingA
2.5 years of income buys a home
More affordable than 94% of U.S. towns
Zillow Home Value Index; area median household income, Census ACS.
BAYARD PUBLIC SCHOOLS
| School | Grades | Students |
|---|---|---|
| Bayard Elementary School | PK–6 | 166 |
| Bayard Secondary School | 7–12 | 157 |
Worth knowing · SchoolsD
On state tests and graduation
NCES · EDFacts.
Small town
1,087 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
How Bayard grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Nebraska), ordered by how far Bayard is from typical.
Cost of livingAOpen →SchoolsDOpen →Hazard riskdrought tops the listC−Open →Jobs & income$68K median household incomeC−Open →HealthMorrill County Community Hospital 13.6 miles awayC+Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 6.3 of 20; 4.7% of households have no car; 1.8% of workers walk, bike or ride transitC+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
OutdoorsConserved land, trails and parksC−Open →History1 notable person born hereB−Open →Civic life7.2 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsA+Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
Climate–Open →Housing market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 38.8; 24% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Bayard: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Bayard, and how to reach them.
PowerCity of BayardEIAHIFLD · EIA
WaterCity of Bayard water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet6 providers99% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Bayard’s trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn Nebraska you can register online until 18 days before Election Day, in person until 11 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 18 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereMorrill County ClerkMorrill County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2025
ZIP code6933469334 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 30, 2026.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Bayard.
SchoolsD
Bayard’s schools rank behind 94% of Nebraska districts
Its public schools are run by the Bayard Public Schools. Its two schools are below.
6%of NE districts it outscoresDSchool Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bayard Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–6 | Grades PK–6 | 166 | D |
| Bayard Secondary SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 7–12 | Grades 7–12 | 157 | D |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within NE on state tests and graduation
HousingCost of living grade A
Homes in Bayard are worth about $148K, by Zillow’s estimate
The typical Bayard home is worth about $148,000, down 2.6% in a year, 47% below the Nebraska typical home. 86% of Bayard households own their home, above both the Nebraska town median (67%) and the median of U.S. towns (73%). Bayard’s median rent is $722 a month.
$148KZillow home value
| Bayard | Nebraska towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 86% | 67% | 73% |
| Median rent | $722 a month | $914 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Bayard$148K
Nebraska$278K
−2.6%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Work & commuteJobs & income grade C−
Bayard stands out in Nebraska and nationally: the average trip to work there is longer
At 29 minutes, Bayard’s average trip to work is against 17 minutes in Nebraska’s towns and 25 minutes across U.S. towns. 3.3% of working residents work locally in Bayard. Jobs based in Bayard fell to 113 in 2023, 182 fewer than in 2013.
3%work in town
| Bayard | Nebraska towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 3.3% | 34% | 8% |
| Average trip to work | 29 minutes | 17 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $68,000 | $69,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Bayard3%
Bridgeport27%
Scottsbluff13%
Gering5%
O'Neill2%
18 mi
median commute distance
113
jobs based in Bayard
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
C+
Walkability grade: more walkable than 40% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C−
High risk in Bayard, with drought at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 75% of U.S. communities.
75risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
DroughtInland floodingHail
3
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
In Bayard, expect snowy winters and hot summers
Bayard has chilly, snowy winters and warm summers, with very little rain. The July high in Bayard is 90°F.
43″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter16–42°
Spring33–62°
Summer56–87°
Fall34–64°
Oct 4
typical first frost
May 5
typical last frost
+1.5°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
HealthC+
Residents of Bayard are less healthy than 63% of U.S. towns
Bayard beats the Nebraska average on 1 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 11. 33% of Bayard adults get no exercise outside work. Only 3 of the 58 Nebraska towns we compare have a higher share of adults who have diabetes than Bayard.
37%healthier than U.S. townsC+Health Grade
| Bayard | Nebraska towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 33% | 28% | 25% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 18% | 23% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 11% | 12% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 42% | 40% | 35% |
32 measures vs. Nebraska
1 better20 too close to call11 worse
| What stands out | Bayard | NE |
|---|---|---|
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 81.3% | 77.5% |
| More adults with heart disease | 8.6% | 6.1% |
Morrill County Community Hospital
13.6 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Safety
Crime reported in Bayard
Bayard's reported crime rate is well below Nebraska's. Among 46 Nebraska towns, just 2 have a lower violent crime rate than Bayard. Most reported incidents are property crimes, mainly thefts.
| Bayard | Nebraska towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 0 per 1,000 residents | 1 | 1.6 |
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 5.4 per 1,000 residents | 7.5 | 9.9 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Bayard0
Nebraska2.2
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Bayard5.4
Nebraska14
U.S.15.5
0
violent crimes reported in 2025
6
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Nearby attractions
All 4 attractions →Chimney Rock National Historic Site and 2 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Bayard. Close and well known come first.
4 mi LandmarkChimney Rock National Historic Site
19 mi National MonumentScotts Bluff National Monument182K visitors a year
19 mi GardenNorthfield Park ArboretumSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Chimney Rock National Historic Site: Mike Tigas from Columbia, MO, United States, CC BY 2.0 · Scotts Bluff National Monument: © 2004 Matthew Trump, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Northfield Park Arboretum: Xnatedawgx, CC BY-SA 3.0
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Bayard
19pages on Bayard
The big questions
SchoolsDBehind 94% of NE districts · 2 schoolsSafety0 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthC+Better than NE on 1 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingA$148K typical home · down 2.6% in a yearWork & commuteC−$68K median household income · 113 jobs hereNatural hazardsC−FEMA risk higher than 75% of U.S. communities · drought
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Bayard; the nearest are
Western Nebraska Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Scottsbluff18.4 mi$3,840 in-state tuitionChadron State CollegeUniversity or college · Public · Chadron75.2 mi$8,290 in-state tuition
About 4 of every 100 Bayard residents are enrolled in college, against 7 across Nebraska.
A commuter town
97% of working residents leave Bayard for work
Where Bayard’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
113jobs based in Bayard
3%of working residents work in town
18 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Bayard
City in Nebraska, United States
Bayard is a city in Morrill County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 1,140 at the 2020 census. Bayard is located 2 miles north of Chimney Rock, one of the most famous rock formations in North America, due to its historical prominence.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 0.7 sq mi
- Elevation
- 3,757 ft
- ZIP code
- 69334
- Area code
- 308
Questions about Bayard
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Bayard, NE expensive?
Not for the area. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades A.