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COUNTY

Brown County

Nebraska · 2,826 residents (2025 est.) · 1,221.404 sq mi
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Brown County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $54,676. Population has fallen 19% since 2000, a loss of 656 residents. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $113,900. With a median age of 45.7, the population is older than the US median of 38.9. Households here earn about 29% less than the Nebraska median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 45.7
US median: 38.9
Less educated
24% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 31%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
2,869
−19%since 2000
from 3,525 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
2 / sq mi
−10%since 2009
from 3 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
45.7
+6%since 2000
from 43.1 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:2,826 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
3K3K3K3K4K1990201020202024Brown County
20243K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55.9%(170)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95%(144)
US avg: 6%
10 to 145.6%(160)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 197.2%(206)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.9%(140)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 349.4%(269)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4410.2%(292)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5410.7%(307)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6413.7%(392)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7415.1%(432)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 848.2%(236)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over4.2%(121)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$54,676
+6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $28,356 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$35,877
+125%since 2000
from $15,924 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
33.9%
+18.7 ptssince 2009
from 15.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
13.4%
+2.3 ptssince 2000
from 11.1% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.508
+15%since 2010
from 0.443 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Agriculture, forestry, fishing21.2%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction20.7%
US avg: 1.2%
Information11.4%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade8%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance5.3%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical4.7%
US avg: 5.1%
Retail trade3.7%
US avg: 9.9%
Other services1.4%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration1.3%
US avg: 4.8%
Arts, entertainment, food0.7%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.6%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.6%
US avg: 0.4%
Transportation & warehousing0.1%
US avg: 2.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$113,900
+31%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $47,600 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$876
+39%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $347 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
74.2%
Unchangedsince 2000
from 74.2% in 2000
25.8% rent
Vacancy rate
23.0%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 24.4% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
22.9%
−2.7 ptssince 2009
from 25.6% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
46.2%
+4.2 ptssince 2009
from 42.0% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.1
+1%since 2009
from 2.1 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
84
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Brown County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic98.1%(3,459)
Black0%(1)
Hispanic / Latino0.8%(29)
Asian0.3%(9)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic88.5%(2,539)
Black0%(1)
Hispanic / Latino6.2%(177)
Asian0%(1)
Other5.3%(151)
Diversity Score
26
+528%since 2009
from 4 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
Mexican5.8%(166)
Guatemalan0.1%(3)
Spaniard0.1%(2)
Asian origin
Pacific Islander origin
Guamanian1.2%(33)
Ancestry
German28.5%(819)
Irish10.3%(296)
American10.1%(290)
English8.1%(232)
Polish4.1%(117)
Swedish3.2%(92)
French2.4%(68)
Czech2.2%(63)
Norwegian2.2%(63)
Welsh1.5%(43)
Danish1.2%(34)
Italian0.9%(27)
+ 10 more ancestry groups with data
Arab0.7%(19)
Lebanese0.7%(19)
Dutch0.5%(13)
Scottish0.3%(10)
Belgian0.3%(8)
Swiss0.1%(3)
Finnish0%(1)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest American population · Largest English population · Largest Mexican population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
24.0%
+6.8 ptssince 2000
from 17.2% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
92.3%
+9.0 ptssince 2000
from 83.3% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
7.4%
+3.1 ptssince 2000
from 4.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
11.9 min
+7%since 2000
from 11.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
70.9%
−7.7 ptssince 2009
from 78.6% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
13.0%
+4.7 ptssince 2009
from 8.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
8.6%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 7.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
7.0%
+2.8 ptssince 2009
from 4.2% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.5%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.9% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
4.7%
−3.2 ptssince 2009
from 8.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
1.7%
−0.9 ptssince 2011
from 2.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
60.7%
+1.5 ptssince 2011
from 59.1% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
14.9%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 13.5% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
38.1%
−22.1 ptssince 2009
from 60.1% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.9%
+3.5 ptssince 2009
from 47.3% in 2009
Female
49.1%
−3.5 ptssince 2009
from 52.7% in 2009
Foreign born
3.3%
+2.2 ptssince 2009
from 1.1% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.5%
−38.8 ptssince 2009
from 46.3% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
15.0%
−3.5 ptssince 2012
from 18.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
7.5%
−73.9 ptssince 2013
from 81.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
85.5%
+17.7 ptssince 2017
from 67.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
95.0%
−4.3 ptssince 2016
from 99.4% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
3.3%
+2.9 ptssince 2016
from 0.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married30.9%(372)
Married56.4%(679)
Widowed6.1%(73)
Divorced6.6%(79)
Women 15+
Never married15.4%(184)
Married54.4%(648)
Widowed16.8%(200)
Divorced13.4%(160)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

Places similar to Brown County

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Pop 2,716
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Pop 2,783
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Pop 2,830
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Pop 2,604
Places similar to Brown County
Head to head

Compare Brown County to nearby counties

BROWN COUNTY VS
Rock County
Income$58,125+6%
Home value$117,500+3%
Population1,259−55%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BROWN COUNTY VS
Blaine County
Income$69,583+27%
Home value$116,900+3%
Population458−84%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BROWN COUNTY VS
Keya Paha County
Income$64,000+17%
Home value$108,800−4%
Population792−72%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BROWN COUNTY VS
Loup County
Income$71,667+31%
Home value$182,300+60%
Population570−80%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Brown County, Nebraska?

Brown County, Nebraska has about 2,869 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Brown County, Nebraska?

The typical household in Brown County, Nebraska earns about $54,676 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Brown County, Nebraska expensive?

In Brown County, Nebraska, the median home is worth about $113,900, and the typical rent is about $876 a month.

How educated are people in Brown County, Nebraska?

About 24.0% of adults age 25 and over in Brown County, Nebraska hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Brown County, Nebraska?

About 13.4% of people in Brown County, Nebraska live below the federal poverty line.

Has Brown County, Nebraska grown since 1990?

Yes, Brown County, Nebraska has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 788 residents, a change of about -22 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

1 census tract
Census Tract 9750
3 ZIP codes
ZIP 69210ZIP 69217ZIP 69214
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →