Population 4,066 · 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 Valley County: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Valley County
Household size in Valley County
| Period | Valley County | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.22 | 2.52 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.24 | 2.53 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.21 | 2.51 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.23 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.02 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Valley County are small: just 2.23 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Valley County has smaller households than at least four in five Nebraska counties.
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 Valley County
| Period | Valley County | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 48.2 | 37.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 45.9 | 37.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 47.2 | 38.3 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 45.8 | 38.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | −2.4 | +0.9 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 45.8, Valley County is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. Since 2006–10, the median age has dropped from 48.2, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change.
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 Valley County
| Period | Valley County | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.3% | 10.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.0% | 10.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 5.7% | 10.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.8% | 10.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | +4.5 pts | +0.3 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are a bit less common in Valley County than nationally: 9.8%, against 11.6%. That is in line with the rest of Nebraska. Compared with other Nebraska counties, though, Valley County has a higher share of single-parent households than most.
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 Valley County
Renters in Valley County
| Period | Valley County | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.6% | 31.4% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 27.3% | 33.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 25.7% | 33.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 26.2% | 33.5% | 34.8% |
| Change | +3.6 pts | +2.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Valley County own their homes; 26.2% rent, below the national share of 34.8%. About half of owners (51.3%) 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 Valley County
| Period | Valley County | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.4% | 10.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 16.0% | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 18.7% | 9.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 13.5% | 7.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | −3.9 pts | −2.2 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy runs high in Valley County: 13.5% of homes are empty, against 9.6% nationally. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones.
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 Valley County
| Period | Valley County | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1950 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1948 | 1970 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1950 | 1972 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1960 | 1975 | 1980 |
| Change | +10 | +6 | +6 |
Valley County is a place of older homes: half were built before 1960, 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 Valley County
| Period | Valley County | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $380 | $730 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $488 | $805 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $559 | $911 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $652 | $1,159 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$273 | +$429 | +$606 |
The median renter in Valley County pays $652 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent takes 17.7% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Valley County has lower rents than the great majority of Nebraska counties.
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 Valley County
Bachelor's degrees in Valley County
| Period | Valley County | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.1% | 29.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 17.2% | 30.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 24.3% | 32.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 26.0% | 34.9% | 35.6% |
| Change | +9.0 pts | +5.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
Just over a quarter of adults 25 and older in Valley County (26.0%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national share of 35.6%. Compared with other Nebraska counties, though, Valley 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 Valley County
| Period | Valley County | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 91.0% | 90.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 93.2% | 90.6% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 92.4% | 91.3% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 95.3% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.3 pts | +1.6 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Valley County: 95.3% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Compared with other Nebraska counties, Valley County has a higher 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 Valley County
| Period | Valley County | Nebraska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1.1% | 5.1% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 1.2% | 5.5% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 1.2% | 3.4% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 0.2% | 3.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.9 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Valley County has been low: just 0.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Of Nebraska's 93 counties, only three have lower unemployment. 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).
Valley 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valley County | 2.23 | 45.8 | 9.8% | 26.2% | 13.5% | 1960 | $652 | 26.0% | 95.3% | 0.2% |
| Greeley County | 2.27 | 42.3 | 4.8% | 18.3% | 21.1% | 1947 | $649 | 21.3% | 93.2% | 3.5% |
| Custer County | 2.33 | 43.9 | 10.4% | 31.1% | 15.8% | 1957 | $866 | 24.9% | 95.1% | 2.4% |
| Boone County | 2.39 | 42.4 | 6.0% | 18.1% | 15.2% | 1956 | $862 | 20.2% | 94.1% | 1.3% |
| Nance County | 2.39 | 43.6 | 7.9% | 27.1% | 16.3% | 1949 | $851 | 20.4% | 92.8% | 3.6% |
| Logan County | 2.59 | 45.5 | 1.3% | 21.1% | 9.4% | 1956 | $761 | 24.1% | 97.8% | 0.2% |
| Platte County | 2.58 | 37.7 | 12.1% | 28.4% | 5.4% | 1971 | $1,017 | 23.7% | 90.6% | 1.9% |
| Colfax County | 3.44 | 34.5 | 24.9% | 23.7% | 4.6% | 1968 | $989 | 14.6% | 67.9% | 2.5% |
| McPherson County | 2.24 | 45.8 | 0.9% | 34.9% | 20.9% | 1955 | $588 | 25.7% | 95.0% | 0.0% |
| Dodge County | 2.43 | 38.9 | 11.1% | 33.1% | 9.6% | 1964 | $1,066 | 22.0% | 88.1% | 3.5% |
| Arthur County | 2.62 | 46.0 | 6.5% | 19.5% | 20.3% | 1974 | $750 | 36.6% | 98.8% | 0.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Richmond County, VA · Ida County, IA · Irion County, TX · Red Willow County, NE · Renville County, ND · Republic County, KS · Reynolds County, MO · Rice County, KS · Rich County, UT · Richardson 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 Valley 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.