United States › Nebraska › Dawson County COUNTY · 2020 ACS
Dawson County Nebraska · 24,111 residents · 1,014 sq mi
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The short version
Dawson County is home to 24,111 people in Nebraska. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 17% of adults. The typical home is worth $113,700, having risen by half since 2000. Getting to work takes 17 minutes on average. 20% of residents were born outside the United States. Renters pay $766 a month at the median.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Younger
median age 36.4
US median: 38.8
Less educated
17% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01
Population & growth from 34.3 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
19K 21K 22K 24K 25K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Dawson County Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $56,731
+4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $36,132 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $15,973 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 18.1% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 10.8% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 6.7%
Professional, scientific, technical 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing 3.9%
Public administration 2.2%
Education & health services 1.9%
Arts, entertainment, food 1.1%
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$113,700
+18%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $64,300 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$766
+13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $453 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 69.2% in 2000
32.1% rent
from 2.78 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
from 2.0 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 72.8%(17,746)
Hispanic / Latino 25.4%(6,178)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 56.1%(13,529)
Hispanic / Latino 35.8%(8,643)
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 19 more ancestry groups with data from 14.4% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 73.6% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 4.1% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 10.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 71.6% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 5.7% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 5.2% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 70.7% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 21.5% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 17.1% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 15.5% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 15.5% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Direct-purchase
US average: 13.7%
VA health care
US average: 2.3%
Any private
US average: 68.1%
Any public
US average: 35.2%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later) 12.5%(144)
Gulf War (1990s) 11.9%(137)
Share of the 1,149 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to Dawson County Head to head
Compare Dawson County to nearby counties DAWSON COUNTY VS
Gosper County
Income $77,500 +37%
Home value $228,500 +101%
Population 1,803 −93%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
DAWSON COUNTY VS
Phelps County
Income $68,919 +21%
Home value $194,900 +71%
Population 8,994 −63%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
DAWSON COUNTY VS
Custer County
Income $67,906 +20%
Home value $157,800 +39%
Population 10,500 −57%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
DAWSON COUNTY VS
Buffalo County
Income $75,911 +34%
Home value $246,400 +117%
Population 51,172 +109%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Dawson County, Nebraska? Dawson County, Nebraska has about 24,111 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Dawson County, Nebraska? The typical household in Dawson County, Nebraska earns about $56,731 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Dawson County, Nebraska expensive? In Dawson County, Nebraska, the median home is worth about $113,700, and the typical rent is about $766 a month.
How educated are people in Dawson County, Nebraska? About 16.7% of adults age 25 and over in Dawson County, Nebraska hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Dawson County, Nebraska? About 11.8% of people in Dawson County, Nebraska live below the federal poverty line.
Has Dawson County, Nebraska grown since 1990? Yes, Dawson County, Nebraska has grown since 1990. The population has added about 4,171 residents, a change of about 21 percent over that period.
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