Population 564 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Thomas County
Household size in Thomas County
| Period | Thomas County | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.28 | 2.52 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.30 | 2.53 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.33 | 2.51 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 1.86 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.42 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Thomas County is a place of small households, averaging 1.86 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 dropped from 2.28, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change. Only one other Nebraska county has smaller households.
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 Thomas County
| Period | Thomas County | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 47.0 | 37.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 44.5 | 37.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 41.8 | 38.3 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 53.3 | 38.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +6.3 | +0.9 | +2.3 |
Thomas County skews older: half of its residents are older than 53.3, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. Of Nebraska's 93 counties, only three are older.
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 Thomas County
| Period | Thomas County | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1.8% | 10.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 4.6% | 10.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 3.2% | 10.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.3% | 10.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | +2.5 pts | +0.3 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 4.3% of households in Thomas County, well below the national share of 11.6%. Thomas County has a lower share of single-parent households than the great majority of Nebraska counties.
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 Thomas County
Renters in Thomas County
| Period | Thomas County | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.9% | 31.4% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 27.2% | 33.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 23.5% | 33.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 31.9% | 33.5% | 34.8% |
| Change | +9.0 pts | +2.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Nearly a third of households in Thomas County rent their homes (31.9%), close to the national share of 34.8%. About three-quarters of owners (76.8%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%.
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 Thomas County
| Period | Thomas County | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.0% | 10.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 19.8% | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 29.5% | 9.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 14.8% | 7.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | −3.2 pts | −2.2 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 14.8% of the housing in Thomas 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.
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 Thomas County
| Period | Thomas County | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1963 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1959 | 1970 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1966 | 1972 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1961 | 1975 | 1980 |
| Change | −2 | +6 | +6 |
Thomas County is a place of older homes: half were built before 1961, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating.
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 Thomas County
| Period | Thomas County | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $588 | $730 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $525 | $805 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $578 | $911 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $638 | $1,159 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$50 | +$429 | +$606 |
The median renter in Thomas County pays $638 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent takes 13.4% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Only seven of Nebraska's 93 counties have lower rents.
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 Thomas County
Bachelor's degrees in Thomas County
| Period | Thomas County | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.2% | 29.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 24.2% | 30.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 24.7% | 32.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 28.7% | 34.9% | 35.6% |
| Change | +12.4 pts | +5.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
Nearly three in ten adults 25 and older in Thomas County (28.7%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national share of 35.6%. Compared with other Nebraska counties, though, Thomas County has a higher share of college graduates than most.
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 Thomas County
| Period | Thomas County | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 93.3% | 90.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 93.6% | 90.6% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 93.9% | 91.3% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 91.9% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | −1.4 pts | +1.6 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Thomas County is a bit above the national rate: 91.9% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. That is in line with the rest of Nebraska. Compared with other Nebraska counties, though, Thomas County has a lower share of high school graduates than most.
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 Thomas County
| Period | Thomas County | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 0.7% | 5.1% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 0.5% | 5.5% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 1.1% | 3.4% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.1% | 3.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | +1.4 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Thomas County has been strong: just 2.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current 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).
Thomas 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas County | 1.86 | 53.3 | 4.3% | 31.9% | 14.8% | 1961 | $638 | 28.7% | 91.9% | 2.1% |
| Hooker County | 1.86 | 43.6 | 1.8% | 44.6% | 23.6% | 1955 | $592 | 24.6% | 95.4% | 3.9% |
| Blaine County | 2.14 | 57.5 | 1.5% | 26.4% | 34.6% | 1962 | $873 | 25.0% | 96.6% | 1.3% |
| Loup County | 2.37 | 43.9 | 5.7% | 26.6% | 43.9% | 1986 | $688 | 27.2% | 99.0% | 0.0% |
| Grant County | 2.14 | 40.4 | 1.4% | 29.2% | 30.2% | 1960 | $867 | 28.6% | 92.3% | 0.3% |
| Garfield County | 2.37 | 47.4 | 6.1% | 24.0% | 29.1% | 1962 | $852 | 29.8% | 95.8% | 2.7% |
| Wheeler County | 2.36 | 54.3 | 2.2% | 22.3% | 38.9% | 1975 | $509 | 30.3% | 96.8% | 2.3% |
| Madison County | 2.44 | 38.6 | 9.6% | 34.6% | 7.9% | 1970 | $894 | 24.1% | 91.3% | 2.8% |
| Scotts Bluff County | 2.39 | 40.2 | 13.3% | 30.7% | 9.7% | 1967 | $931 | 27.0% | 90.8% | 2.6% |
| Stanton County | 2.48 | 40.2 | 4.6% | 21.7% | 7.2% | 1964 | $1,057 | 23.3% | 94.1% | 0.6% |
| Goshen County | 2.27 | 43.3 | 5.4% | 26.8% | 11.0% | 1971 | $741 | 23.5% | 94.1% | 3.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Ouray County, CO · Merrick County, NE · Metcalfe County, KY · Middlesex County, VA · Miller County, GA · Mills County, TX · Modoc County, CA · Monona County, IA · Osborne County, KS · Osceola County, IA
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 Thomas 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.
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