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CITY

Grand Island

Nebraska · 53,943 residents (2025 est.) · 30.117 sq mi
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The short version

Grand Island has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $63,795. Population has grown 23% since 2000. 21% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $218,600. At a median age of 34.7, residents skew younger than the country as a whole.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 34.7
US median: 38.9
Less educated
21% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 48%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
52,884
+23%since 2000
from 42,940 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,756 / sq mi
+17%since 2009
from 1,503 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
34.7
Unchangedsince 2000
from 34.8 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:53,943 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
38K42K46K50K55K1990201020202024Grand Island
202453K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 57.7%(4,076)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.7%(3,564)
US avg: 6%
10 to 148.9%(4,706)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 197.3%(3,866)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 246.5%(3,437)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3413.2%(6,985)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4412.8%(6,745)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5411.3%(5,966)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6410.8%(5,733)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 748.5%(4,476)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 844.1%(2,167)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2.2%(1,163)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$63,795
−3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $36,044 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$33,902
+99%since 2000
from $17,071 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
42.2%
+20.9 ptssince 2009
from 21.3% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
15.2%
+2.4 ptssince 2000
from 12.8% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.468
+15%since 2010
from 0.407 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade21.4%
US avg: 9.9%
Information13.4%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade9.6%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance4.9%
US avg: 5.9%
Other services4.8%
US avg: 6.7%
Professional, scientific, technical4.2%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration3.8%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing3.1%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction3.1%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing1.2%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services0.8%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0.7%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$218,600
+48%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $81,000 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$947
+14%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $455 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
57.8%
−5.0 ptssince 2000
from 62.7% in 2000
42.2% rent
Vacancy rate
3.4%
−2.3 ptssince 2009
from 5.7% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
18.3%
−2.0 ptssince 2009
from 20.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
45.1%
+5.0 ptssince 2009
from 40.1% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.4
+49%since 2009
from 2.3 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
59
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Grand Island on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic81.4%(34,960)
Black0.3%(145)
Hispanic / Latino15.9%(6,845)
Asian1.3%(551)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic55.8%(29,501)
Black3.8%(2,032)
Hispanic / Latino36.4%(19,267)
Asian1.1%(603)
Other2.8%(1,481)
Diversity Score
69
+35%since 2009
from 51 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican18.3%(9,703)
Central American10.3%(5,472)
Guatemalan7.8%(4,111)
Cuban3.6%(1,906)
Salvadoran1.6%(861)
Honduran0.8%(398)
Puerto Rican0.4%(217)
Chilean0.4%(217)
Nicaraguan0.2%(102)
Spaniard0.2%(102)
Colombian0.2%(91)
+ 2 more hispanic origin groups with data
Venezuelan0.1%(72)
Asian origin
Laotian0.5%(254)
Vietnamese0.3%(133)
Chinese0.2%(88)
Asian Indian0.2%(80)
Filipino0.1%(58)
Korean0.1%(29)
Burmese0%(4)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
German24.9%(13,148)
Irish9.4%(4,959)
English6.7%(3,545)
American4.8%(2,546)
Polish3.6%(1,929)
Czech1.8%(962)
Danish1.5%(772)
Swedish1.4%(717)
Dutch1.1%(557)
French0.9%(497)
Italian0.7%(365)
+ 23 more ancestry groups with data
Norwegian0.6%(343)
Scottish0.6%(339)
Scotch-Irish0.4%(223)
Russian0.3%(179)
Welsh0.3%(143)
Canadian0.3%(140)
Finnish0.2%(131)
Swiss0.2%(97)
Armenian0.1%(54)
British0.1%(54)
Somali0.1%(52)
Portuguese0.1%(31)
Austrian0.1%(28)
Ethiopian0%(24)
Bulgarian0%(20)
Nigerian0%(18)
Arab0%(12)
Moroccan0%(12)
Romanian0%(11)
Greek0%(6)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest Mexican population · Largest Central American population · Largest Irish population · Largest Guatemalan population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
20.9%
+5.1 ptssince 2000
from 15.8% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
83.5%
+2.2 ptssince 2000
from 81.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
7.6%
+2.9 ptssince 2000
from 4.6% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
16.9 min
+61%since 2000
from 10.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
78.5%
−2.0 ptssince 2009
from 80.5% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
14.3%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 13.5% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.6%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
4.2%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 3.5% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.5%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.8% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.2%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 1.1% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
7.3%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 6.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.6%
−1.1 ptssince 2011
from 5.7% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
68.3%
−5.6 ptssince 2011
from 74.0% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
12.8%
+2.8 ptssince 2009
from 10.0% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
30.0%
−28.1 ptssince 2009
from 58.1% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
51.1%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 50.0% in 2009
Female
48.9%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 50.0% in 2009
Foreign born
19.4%
+6.1 ptssince 2009
from 13.3% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.4%
−43.9 ptssince 2009
from 49.3% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
12.9%
+1.8 ptssince 2012
from 11.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
14.5%
−68.7 ptssince 2013
from 83.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
89.5%
+14.7 ptssince 2017
from 74.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
68.4%
−6.7 ptssince 2016
from 75.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
28.3%
+6.9 ptssince 2016
from 21.4% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married36.7%(7,507)
Married50.7%(10,363)
Widowed2.9%(597)
Divorced9.7%(1,973)
Women 15+
Never married29.4%(5,911)
Married47.5%(9,552)
Widowed8.3%(1,660)
Divorced14.8%(2,975)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Compare Grand Island to nearby cities

GRAND ISLAND VS
Hastings
Income$64,048same
Home value$184,700−16%
Population25,121−53%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
GRAND ISLAND VS
York
Income$63,265−1%
Home value$180,900−17%
Population8,284−85%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
GRAND ISLAND VS
Kearney
Income$69,724+9%
Home value$244,600+12%
Population34,782−36%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
GRAND ISLAND VS
Columbus
Income$64,626+1%
Home value$213,600−2%
Population25,248−53%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Grand Island, Nebraska?

Grand Island, Nebraska has about 52,884 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Grand Island, Nebraska?

The typical household in Grand Island, Nebraska earns about $63,795 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Grand Island, Nebraska expensive?

In Grand Island, Nebraska, the median home is worth about $218,600, and the typical rent is about $947 a month.

How educated are people in Grand Island, Nebraska?

About 20.9% of adults age 25 and over in Grand Island, Nebraska hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Grand Island, Nebraska?

About 15.2% of people in Grand Island, Nebraska live below the federal poverty line.

Has Grand Island, Nebraska grown since 1990?

Yes, Grand Island, Nebraska has grown since 1990. The population has added about 13,498 residents, a change of about 34 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →