Population 1,978,707 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Nebraska
Household size in Nebraska
| Period | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.52 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.53 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.51 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.01 | −0.03 |
The average household in Nebraska has 2.51 people, a bit under the U.S. average of 2.65. Household size has barely moved since 2006–10, while the national average fell.
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 Nebraska
| Period | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 37.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 38.3 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 38.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +0.9 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Nebraska is 38.3 years old, a few years younger than the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has crept up from 37.4, as it has nationally. The youngest areas are in eastern Nebraska, the oldest in northwestern Nebraska.
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 Nebraska
| Period | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.3 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in ten households in Nebraska (10.4%), a little below the national share of 11.6%. Nebraska has a lower share of single-parent households than most states.
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 Nebraska
Renters in Nebraska
| Period | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 31.4% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 33.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 33.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 33.5% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting in Nebraska is about as common as it is nationally: 33.5% of households rent, against 34.8%. Among homeowners, 41.4% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. The renter share is up 2.0 points from 2006–10, as it has 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 Nebraska
| Period | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 7.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.2 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Nebraska: 7.8% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 2.2 points, mirroring the country. Nebraska has a lower vacancy rate than the great majority of states.
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 Nebraska
| Period | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1970 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1972 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1975 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +6 |
Homes in Nebraska run a bit older than the national norm, with a median build year of 1975 against 1980. The median year built has moved up from 1969 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in eastern Nebraska, the oldest in northwestern Nebraska.
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 Nebraska
| Period | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $730 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $805 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $911 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,159 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$429 | +$606 |
The median renter in Nebraska pays $1,159 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $429 a month from 2006–10, a 59% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 28.2% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Rents run highest in eastern Nebraska and lowest in northwestern Nebraska.
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 Nebraska
Bachelor's degrees in Nebraska
| Period | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 29.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 30.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 32.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 34.9% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
Just over a third of adults 25 and older in Nebraska (34.9%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, close to the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 5.5 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in eastern Nebraska and least in northern Nebraska.
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 Nebraska
| Period | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 90.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 90.6% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 91.3% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +1.6 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Nebraska is a bit above the national rate: 91.8% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 1.6 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Nebraska
| Period | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.1% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 5.5% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.4% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Nebraska has been low: just 3.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Only one other state has lower unemployment. Unemployment has fallen 2.1 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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).
Nebraska compared with nearby states
| State | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nebraska | 2.51 | 38.3 | 10.4% | 33.5% | 7.8% | 1975 | $1,159 | 34.9% | 91.8% | 3.1% |
| Kansas | 2.53 | 38.8 | 10.5% | 32.8% | 9.7% | 1976 | $1,159 | 35.6% | 91.7% | 4.0% |
| South Dakota | 2.48 | 38.9 | 10.7% | 31.4% | 10.3% | 1981 | $1,000 | 32.5% | 93.1% | 3.1% |
| Iowa | 2.43 | 39.8 | 10.0% | 28.3% | 8.8% | 1971 | $1,020 | 32.3% | 93.0% | 3.7% |
| Minnesota | 2.52 | 40.0 | 9.6% | 27.8% | 8.3% | 1978 | $1,404 | 39.6% | 93.7% | 4.1% |
| Missouri | 2.49 | 40.1 | 11.0% | 31.9% | 10.5% | 1978 | $1,122 | 32.6% | 91.8% | 4.1% |
| Colorado | 2.54 | 39.1 | 9.3% | 33.8% | 7.3% | 1988 | $1,963 | 45.9% | 92.8% | 4.6% |
| Wyoming | 2.39 | 40.2 | 9.2% | 28.2% | 12.1% | 1981 | $1,091 | 30.6% | 94.1% | 3.8% |
| Wisconsin | 2.40 | 41.4 | 9.8% | 32.2% | 9.2% | 1974 | $1,139 | 33.6% | 93.3% | 3.3% |
| Illinois | 2.58 | 40.2 | 11.3% | 32.9% | 8.1% | 1970 | $1,428 | 37.7% | 90.3% | 6.0% |
| Indiana | 2.54 | 39.3 | 11.7% | 29.4% | 9.3% | 1977 | $1,146 | 30.0% | 89.9% | 4.3% |
All figures 2020–24.
States with similar populations: South Carolina · Montana · Nevada · New Jersey · New Mexico · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Puerto Rico
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 Nebraska. 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.
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