Community-driven city rising from Nebraska prairie
At the crossroads of two highways 50 miles west of Lincoln, York rises from the south-central Nebraska prairie. With a population of 8,000, the city is small but growing thanks to a favorable location and a strong sense of community. “It has a lot to offer for families — the community center, library groups, plus the Chamber puts on a lot of events,” says Jennifer Otte, who worked as a Realtor with Heritage Realty for 12 years. “And it’s centrally located on I-80, so you can get anywhere pretty quickly.” The seat of York County is also home to a private Christian university and the Nebraska Correctional Center for Women.
Median home price lower than Lincoln
Buyers in York benefit from a median home price of $215,000, nearly half the national median and about $80,000 lower than the median price in nearby Lincoln. Starter homes cost $150,000 to $200,000, while well-maintained or updated homes are priced from $200,000 to $400,000. Large custom builds or homes on multiacre lots might sell for $650,000 to $800,000.
York is in Tornado Alley, a swath of the central United States prone to high tornado activity. Buyers should look for properties with basements or storm shelters and ensure that their insurance policies cover wind and storm damage.
A cultural scene with a family focus
Family-friendly museums and events distinguish York’s cultural scene. Art Deco architecture welcomes visitors to the City Auditorium, home of the York Area Children’s Museum. The auditorium includes a gymnasium and other function spaces available for private rentals. Artifacts from the Ancient Near East and Rome are on display at the Clayton Museum of Ancient History, which includes an interactive zone where kids can join a simulated archaeological dig. According to the World Record Academy, Lee’s Legendary Marbles and Collectibles features the world’s largest marble collection. The annual Yorklympics event launched in summer 2024 as a celebration of teamwork, athleticism and community pride.
Home of York University
York Public Schools is a small district with four schools, including a preschool academy. The district earns a Niche grade of B. The city is home to two parochial schools, St. Joseph Catholic School and Emmanuel-Faith Lutheran School, both ungraded by Niche. York University, a private Christian liberal arts school, enrolls about 500 students. The university and the two parochial schools testify to the city’s large Christian population. About 75 percent of Nebraskans identify as Christian, and York’s population is predominantly Lutheran, Methodist and Catholic.
At the crossroads of I-80 and Route 81
York residents live at the junction of Interstate 80 and U.S. Route 81. The interstate leads 50 miles east to Lincoln, where nonstop flights to Chicago and Denver are available from Lincoln Airport. In 2022, York received a $15 million federal grant for an infrastructure project to improve pedestrian and bicycle trails throughout the city. Project Access York will expand existing trails and build a pedestrian bridge over Route 81. The project is slated for completion in 2028; until then, construction could affect pedestrian and vehicular traffic.
Healthcare is a major area industry, with York General Hospital employing over 350 people. The university and detention center provide jobs in education and corrections. Several agricultural service companies operate from the city’s outskirts. “Supplying food for America is big in York,” Otte says. “But it’s a nice wide variety of industrial and blue-collar jobs.”
Downtown on Lincoln Avenue
Lincoln Avenue is the main artery in York’s downtown district, a wide thoroughfare feeding into a network of smaller side streets. Jewelry and furniture stores, consignment shops and boutiques, coffee shops and cafés populate the white- and red-brick buildings. Chances “R” Restaurant and Lounge is a popular tour bus stop that’s been featured in numerous articles about Nebraska. “It’s just basic home cooking, but it seems like everyone across the country who’s been to York knows Chances ‘R,’” Otte says. At the intersection of Route 81 and I-80, chain restaurants and department stores line up alongside car dealerships and auto parts stores.
Wet and wild fun at the Aquatic Center
York’s Parks and Recreation department features a Family Aquatic Center with waterslides, climbing walls and a zero-depth play area. The high school’s baseball and softball teams take the field at the York Ballpark Complex, which hosts weekend tournaments. Parks throughout the city are threaded with walking and biking trails. The York Country Club is private, but its 18-hole championship golf course welcomes guests and visitors.
Groundwater contamination and crime risk
Groundwater contamination issues have plagued the area for decades. The Environmental Protection Agency monitors the situation with periodic private well sampling activities.
According to FBI data, violent and property crime rates are lower than in Lincoln. Incidents of violent crime can vary from year to year but went down between 2022 and 2023. Numbers for property-related crimes have held relatively steady over the past several years.
Karalyn is passionate about assisting clients in achieving their financial objectives, whether they are buying or selling, and guiding them to the next phase of their lives. She firmly believes in the value of ongoing education and strives to be the best she can be for her clients.
Karalyn holds several prestigious designations, including GRI (Graduate Realtors Institute), CRS (Certified Residential Specialist), SRS (Short Sale Specialist), and CLHMS (Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist). Her commitment to professional development is evident in her dedication to these designations.
In addition to her dedication to her clients, Karalyn is highly active in her local, state, and national real estate associations. She has assumed various leadership roles, including serving as President of the Realtors Association of Lincoln, showcasing her commitment to the real estate profession and her community.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
