Wauneta, NE Demographics

Population 642 · 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 ↓︎
Wauneta, NE map of median age by neighborhood
Click the map to explore
Younger residents Older residents
Colorblind friendly off

More maps of Wauneta: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet

Jump to median age ↓︎

Population and households in Wauneta

Household size in Wauneta

Household size, people per household
PeriodWaunetaNebraskaU.S.
2006–102.172.522.68
2010–142.392.532.73
2015–192.102.512.71
2020–242.312.512.65
Change+0.14−0.01−0.03
Show on the map ↑︎

Households in Wauneta are small: just 2.31 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. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.17, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change.

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 Wauneta

Median age, years
PeriodWaunetaNebraskaU.S.
2006–1050.237.437.7
2010–1444.237.938.6
2015–1949.038.339.6
2020–2447.538.340.1
Change−2.7+0.9+2.3
Show on the map ↑︎

With a median age of 47.5, Wauneta is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees.

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 Wauneta

Single-parent households, % of households
PeriodWaunetaNebraskaU.S.
2006–108.5%10.1%12.3%
2010–147.1%10.6%12.3%
2015–193.3%10.1%11.6%
2020–243.7%10.4%11.6%
Change−4.8 pts+0.3 pts−0.6 pts
Show on the map ↑︎

Single parents head only 3.7% of households in Wauneta, well below the national share of 11.6%.

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 Wauneta

Renters in Wauneta

Renters, % of occupied homes
PeriodWaunetaNebraskaU.S.
2006–1026.1%31.4%33.3%
2010–1421.5%33.5%35.6%
2015–1921.8%33.9%36.0%
2020–2427.0%33.5%34.8%
Change+0.9 pts+2.0 pts+1.5 pts
Show on the map ↑︎

Most households in Wauneta own their homes; 27.0% rent, below the national share of 34.8%. About three-quarters of owners (75.5%) 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 Wauneta

Vacant homes, % of all homes
PeriodWaunetaNebraskaU.S.
2006–1019.0%10.0%11.4%
2010–1416.1%9.1%11.4%
2015–1919.7%9.4%11.1%
2020–2420.0%7.8%9.6%
Change+1.0 pts−2.2 pts−1.8 pts
Show on the map ↑︎

Vacancy is high in Wauneta: 20.0% of homes are empty, 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 Wauneta

Age of homes, median year built
PeriodWaunetaNebraskaU.S.
2006–10194719691974
2010–14195719701975
2015–19195619721977
2020–24194519751980
Change−3+6+6
Show on the map ↑︎

Wauneta is a place of older homes: half were built before 1945, 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 Wauneta

Rent, per month
PeriodWaunetaNebraskaU.S.
2006–10$422$730$965
2010–14$560$805$1,040
2015–19$556$911$1,213
2020–24$687$1,159$1,571
Change+$264+$429+$606
Show on the map ↑︎

Rent in Wauneta runs $687 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. The typical renter here spends 17.9% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally.

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 Wauneta

Bachelor's degrees in Wauneta

Bachelor's degrees, % of adults 25+
PeriodWaunetaNebraskaU.S.
2006–1012.1%29.5%28.4%
2010–1416.6%30.4%29.6%
2015–1919.5%32.4%32.1%
2020–2424.9%34.9%35.6%
Change+12.7 pts+5.5 pts+7.2 pts
Show on the map ↑︎

Fewer adults in Wauneta have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 24.9%, against 35.6% nationally.

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 Wauneta

High school graduates, % of adults 25+
PeriodWaunetaNebraskaU.S.
2006–1088.4%90.3%84.9%
2010–1492.1%90.6%86.1%
2015–1991.8%91.3%87.7%
2020–2495.4%91.8%89.3%
Change+7.0 pts+1.6 pts+4.3 pts
Show on the map ↑︎

High school completion is high in Wauneta: 95.4% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%.

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 Wauneta

Unemployment, % of the labor force
PeriodWaunetaNebraskaU.S.
2006–103.8%5.1%8.1%
2010–142.8%5.5%9.4%
2015–192.8%3.4%5.6%
2020–241.8%3.1%5.4%
Change−2.0 pts−2.1 pts−2.7 pts
Show on the map ↑︎

The job market in Wauneta has been strong: just 1.8% 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).

Wauneta compared with nearby cities

CityHousehold sizeMedian ageSingle parentsRentersVacant homesMedian year builtMedian rentBachelor's degreeHigh school diplomaUnemployment
Wauneta2.3147.53.7%27.0%20.0%1945$68724.9%95.4%1.8%
Enders2.3246.12.8%28.9%22.5%1949$72923.2%93.7%2.1%
Palisade2.2847.411.1%19.6%24.4%1952$99220.4%95.5%0.3%
Imperial2.5945.65.0%16.1%21.0%1969$84524.1%87.1%1.7%
Hamlet2.2447.33.7%32.1%22.6%1946$50819.8%95.0%0.0%
Hayes Center2.2447.33.7%32.1%22.6%1946$50819.8%95.0%0.0%
Max2.2943.64.0%36.2%23.7%1945$46721.5%96.0%0.1%
Stratton2.3352.510.8%17.3%23.7%1939$94318.3%94.5%1.5%
Champion2.3346.22.7%28.5%22.5%1949$74223.3%93.5%2.2%
Parks2.1946.93.1%18.0%22.6%1960$83617.3%92.3%0.8%
Trenton2.1253.97.5%17.4%41.3%1956$60121.5%93.2%1.3%

All figures 2020–24.

Cities with similar populations: Rockvale, CO · Lotts, GA · Louise, MS · Louise, TN · Lucky Stop, KY · Machpelah, NC · Madison, CA · Magnetic Springs, OH · Maiden Rock, WI · Majestic, KY

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 Wauneta. 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.