Tilden Public School, 1908
Tilden’s story
146 years in pictures
Census counts: 533 in 1900, 992 in 2020. The archive holds 4 old photos and papers going back to 1908 and 2 maps from 1963 on.
- 1880Tilden is settled
TildenNE
A town of 982, settled in 1880.
Population
982
2025 Census estimate · −0.6% since 2020
Typical home
$215K
−1.2% in a year
Household income
$69K
median
Median age
41.6
years
Jobs based here
248
A commuter town
Is Tilden a good place to live?
Only 3 of the 58 Nebraska towns we compare have a lower share of working residents who work in town than Tilden. Tilden has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
982 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Tilden: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Tilden, and how to reach them.
PowerNebraska Public Power District10.9¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterCity of Tilden water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet6 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Tilden’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 hereMadison County ClerkMadison County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2025
ZIP code6878168781 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 Tilden.
Work & commute
Tilden has 0.5 jobs for every working resident, so most commute out
Most working residents leave Tilden for work: only 4% work in town. Jobs based in Tilden fell to 248 in 2023, 96 fewer than in 2013. Tilden’s average trip to work is 18 minutes, close to Nebraska’s towns (17 minutes) and below U.S. towns (25 minutes).
4%work in town
| Tilden | Nebraska towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 18 minutes | 17 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 14% | 11% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $69,000 | $69,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Tilden4%
Norfolk28%
Omaha5%
Battle Creek4%
Neligh4%
21 mi
median commute distance
248
jobs based in Tilden
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Schools
The schools Tilden’s kids attend
Its public schools are run by the Elkhorn Valley Schools. Its two schools are below.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elkhorn Valley Elementary SCHLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–6 | Grades PK–6 | 252 | B+ |
| Elkhorn Valley High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 7–12 | Grades 7–12 | 190 | C+ |
NCES · EDFacts
Housing
The typical home in Tilden is valued at about $215K
The typical Tilden home is worth about $215,000, down 1.2% in a year, 23% below the Nebraska typical home. Tilden’s median rent is $697 a month, where Nebraska’s towns sit at $914 a month and U.S. towns at $1,185 a month. 77% of households own their home in Tilden.
$215KZillow home value
| Tilden | Nebraska towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $697 a month | $914 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 77% | 67% | 73% |
Typical home value
Tilden$215K
Nebraska$278K
−1.2%
value change, 1 year
1
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Climate
Four seasons and pleasant summers in Tilden
Tilden has cold, snowy winters and warm summers. Only 3 of the 58 Nebraska towns we compare have a lower July high than Tilden.
37″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter14–35°
Spring36–60°
Summer61–83°
Fall38–62°
Oct 4
typical first frost
May 4
typical last frost
+0.6°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Natural hazards
High risk in Tilden, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 62% of U.S. communities.
62risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingHailTornadoes
2
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Safety
Crime reported in Tilden
No violent or property crimes were reported in Tilden in 2025. In a town this small, a few incidents move the numbers a lot, so rates aren't shown.
Tilden is small, so we show counts rather than rates.
0
violent crimes reported in 2025
0
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Health
How healthy Tilden is
Tilden beats the Nebraska average on 2 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 4. 17% of Tilden adults have been diagnosed with depression.
| Tilden | Nebraska towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 18% | 23% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 28% | 30% | 33% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 19% | 16% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 14% | 17% |
32 measures vs. Nebraska
2 better26 too close to call4 worse
| What stands out | Tilden | NE |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer uninsured adults | 8% | 9.9% |
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 79.8% | 77.5% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 9.8% | 8.3% |
Antelope Memorial Hospital
11.9 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: primary care, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Tilden
19pages on Tilden
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Tilden; the nearest are
Northeast Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Norfolk22.3 mi$3,840 in-state tuitionWayne State CollegeUniversity or college · Public · Wayne44 mi$8,216 in-state tuition
About 3 of every 100 Tilden residents are enrolled in college, against 7 across Nebraska.
A commuter town
96% of working residents leave Tilden for work
Where Tilden’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
248jobs based in Tilden
4%of working residents work in town
21 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
Famous people from Tilden
6 notable people were born in Tilden.
W
Walter BrueggemannAmerican theologian · 1933–2025C
Cliff AshburnAmerican football player · 1905–1989J
Joe LindahlAmerican football coach · 1919–2008P
Paul BlessingAmerican football end · 1919–1990About Tilden
City in Antelope and Madison counties in Nebraska, United States
Tilden is a city in Madison and Antelope counties in Nebraska, United States. The population was 992 at the 2020 census. The Madison County portion of Tilden is part of the Norfolk Micropolitan Statistical Area.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1880
- Area
- 0.7 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,683 ft
- ZIP code
- 68781
- Area code
- 402
Questions about Tilden
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Tilden, NE a good place to live?
Tilden has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
What is Tilden, NE known for?
6 notable people were born here, including L. Ron Hubbard and Richie Ashburn.