Population 7,161 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of Jefferson County: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Jefferson County
Household size in Jefferson County
| Period | Jefferson County | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.34 | 2.52 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.22 | 2.53 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.13 | 2.51 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.28 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.06 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Jefferson County is a place of small households, averaging 2.28 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has edged down from 2.34, as it has nationally. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the northwest.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Jefferson County
| Period | Jefferson County | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 44.8 | 37.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 45.9 | 37.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 46.4 | 38.3 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 43.9 | 38.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | −0.9 | +0.9 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Jefferson County is 43.9 years old, older than the national median of 40.1. The median age has edged down from 44.8 in 2006–10, even as the national median rose. Residents skew youngest in the west and oldest in the southeast.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Jefferson County
| Period | Jefferson County | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.5% | 10.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.3% | 10.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.6% | 10.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.2% | 10.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.3 pts | +0.3 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Jefferson County: 5.2% of households, against 11.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged down 1.3 points, in line with the national trend.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Jefferson County
Renters in Jefferson County
| Period | Jefferson County | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.9% | 31.4% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 21.6% | 33.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 28.8% | 33.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 25.1% | 33.5% | 34.8% |
| Change | +5.2 pts | +2.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
About a quarter of households in Jefferson County rent their homes (25.1%), below the national share of 34.8%; the rest own. More than half of owners (54.7%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the south; owners are most common in the northeast. The renter share has risen 5.2 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Jefferson County
| Period | Jefferson County | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.1% | 10.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 14.6% | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 15.5% | 9.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 14.1% | 7.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.1 pts | −2.2 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 14.1% of the housing in Jefferson County, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Vacancy has fallen 2.1 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Jefferson County
| Period | Jefferson County | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1946 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1949 | 1970 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1952 | 1972 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1958 | 1975 | 1980 |
| Change | +11 | +6 | +6 |
The housing in Jefferson County is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1958, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The median year built has moved up from 1946 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Jefferson County
| Period | Jefferson County | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $483 | $730 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $490 | $805 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $624 | $911 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $575 | $1,159 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$92 | +$429 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Jefferson County costs $575 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $92 a month since 2006–10, up 19%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 26.0% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Rents run highest in the northeast and lowest in the northwest.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Jefferson County
Bachelor's degrees in Jefferson County
| Period | Jefferson County | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.4% | 29.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 12.7% | 30.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 17.9% | 32.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 20.1% | 34.9% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.7 pts | +5.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Jefferson County: 20.1% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 5.7 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. Jefferson County has a lower share of college graduates than the great majority of Nebraska counties.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Jefferson County
| Period | Jefferson County | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 89.6% | 90.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 89.4% | 90.6% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 90.5% | 91.3% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 93.3% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.7 pts | +1.6 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Jefferson County is above the national rate: 93.3% of adults have a diploma, against 89.3%. The picture is much the same across Nebraska. The share with a diploma is up 3.7 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Jefferson County
| Period | Jefferson County | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.8% | 5.1% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.6% | 5.5% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 1.8% | 3.4% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 1.4% | 3.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −5.4 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Jefferson County has been low: just 1.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 5.4 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Jefferson County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson County | 2.28 | 43.9 | 5.2% | 25.1% | 14.1% | 1958 | $575 | 20.1% | 93.3% | 1.4% |
| Gage County | 2.30 | 42.9 | 9.1% | 26.5% | 10.7% | 1961 | $826 | 24.4% | 93.8% | 1.6% |
| Thayer County | 2.31 | 46.5 | 6.2% | 22.5% | 15.6% | 1954 | $710 | 23.7% | 94.7% | 2.0% |
| Nuckolls County | 2.11 | 51.3 | 3.7% | 16.5% | 13.1% | 1952 | $551 | 22.5% | 92.3% | 0.7% |
| Pawnee County | 2.30 | 46.8 | 6.6% | 19.8% | 24.1% | 1950 | $855 | 21.4% | 87.0% | 2.6% |
| Webster County | 2.25 | 44.9 | 8.5% | 19.4% | 16.0% | 1947 | $719 | 21.1% | 94.9% | 0.8% |
| Richardson County | 2.19 | 45.7 | 6.9% | 22.7% | 11.2% | 1952 | $682 | 25.4% | 93.5% | 4.0% |
| Franklin County | 2.19 | 47.1 | 7.3% | 16.8% | 13.8% | 1940 | $743 | 21.1% | 93.7% | 2.7% |
| Holt County | 2.36 | 48.7 | 10.4% | 22.8% | 22.7% | 1961 | $655 | 19.1% | 92.7% | 2.2% |
| Harlan County | 2.36 | 49.2 | 4.2% | 14.2% | 32.3% | 1962 | $694 | 29.6% | 94.0% | 1.3% |
| Gentry County | 2.55 | 40.3 | 6.2% | 25.6% | 17.1% | 1971 | $658 | 21.4% | 89.0% | 2.3% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Dewey County, OK · Stonewall County, TX · Stewart County, GA · Stevens County, KS · Sterling County, TX · Steele County, ND · Eureka County, NV · Esmeralda County, NV · Edwards County, TX · Dundy County, NE
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Jefferson County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.