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COUNTY

Harlan County

Nebraska · 3,000 residents (2025 est.) · 553.466 sq mi
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Notable rankings
#88Highest homeownership rateof 3,14485.8%#134Lowest unemploymentof 3,1441.3%
The short version

Harlan County has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $70,625. Population has fallen 25% since 2000, a loss of 939 residents. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $145,800. With a median age of 47.3, the population is older than the US median of 38.9. It sits in the top 10% of US counties for household income.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 47.3
US median: 38.9
Less educated
29% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 66%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
2,847
−25%since 2000
from 3,786 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
5 / sq mi
−15%since 2009
from 6 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
47.3
+6%since 2000
from 44.5 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:3,000 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
3K3K3K4K4K1990201020202024Harlan County
20243K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55.8%(166)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.6%(189)
US avg: 6%
10 to 145.7%(161)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 196.5%(184)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 243.6%(102)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 347.7%(218)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4411.1%(316)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 549.6%(273)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6414.9%(425)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7416%(455)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 849.3%(265)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over3.3%(93)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$70,625
+26%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $30,679 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$44,768
+187%since 2000
from $15,618 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
47.2%
+31.9 ptssince 2009
from 15.3% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
6.7%
−3.4 ptssince 2000
from 10.1% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.506
+17%since 2010
from 0.433 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Agriculture, forestry, fishing14.3%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction14.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Retail trade10.7%
US avg: 9.9%
Information10.6%
US avg: 10.8%
Transportation & warehousing5.7%
US avg: 2.2%
Finance & insurance5.3%
US avg: 5.9%
Other services4.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Wholesale trade4.6%
US avg: 6.9%
Public administration3.6%
US avg: 4.8%
Professional, scientific, technical3.6%
US avg: 5.1%
Education & health services1.7%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food1.7%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$145,800
+66%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $48,300 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$657
−3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $370 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
85.8%
+5.5 ptssince 2000
from 80.3% in 2000
14.2% rent
Vacancy rate
36.5%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 35.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
19.5%
+2.7 ptssince 2009
from 16.8% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
17.6%
−2.4 ptssince 2009
from 20.0% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.1
+23%since 2009
from 1.7 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
82
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Harlan County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic98.5%(3,729)
Black0.1%(5)
Hispanic / Latino0.8%(29)
Asian0.1%(3)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic94.1%(2,680)
Black0.1%(4)
Hispanic / Latino1.8%(51)
Asian1.2%(33)
Other2.8%(79)
Diversity Score
14
+174%since 2009
from 5 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
Mexican1.4%(41)
Spaniard0.2%(7)
Asian origin
Japanese0.9%(26)
Filipino0.2%(7)
Ancestry
German39.7%(1,131)
English13.3%(378)
Swedish7.5%(213)
Irish6.6%(188)
American2.5%(72)
Dutch2.2%(63)
Czech1.8%(50)
French1.6%(46)
Scottish1.6%(45)
Danish1.3%(38)
Polish1.2%(34)
Norwegian1%(29)
+ 13 more ancestry groups with data
British1%(28)
Italian0.9%(27)
Scotch-Irish0.5%(13)
Hungarian0.3%(9)
Austrian0.2%(7)
Welsh0.2%(7)
Russian0.1%(3)
Arab0.1%(2)
Lebanese0.1%(2)
Swiss0.1%(2)
Belgian0%(1)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest English population · Largest Swedish population · Largest Irish population · Largest American population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
29.2%
+13.9 ptssince 2000
from 15.3% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
93.9%
+8.1 ptssince 2000
from 85.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
7.9%
+4.4 ptssince 2000
from 3.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
19.1 min
+37%since 2000
from 13.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
72.4%
−5.6 ptssince 2009
from 77.9% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
12.3%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 11.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
8.5%
+3.5 ptssince 2009
from 5.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
6.3%
+2.3 ptssince 2009
from 4.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.3%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
1.1%
−2.9 ptssince 2009
from 4.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
1.3%
−0.6 ptssince 2011
from 1.9% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
61.1%
−1.8 ptssince 2011
from 62.9% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
12.8%
−2.9 ptssince 2009
from 15.7% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
37.2%
−32.3 ptssince 2009
from 69.5% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
52.4%
+3.5 ptssince 2009
from 48.8% in 2009
Female
47.6%
−3.5 ptssince 2009
from 51.2% in 2009
Foreign born
2.2%
+2.0 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
8.1%
−40.9 ptssince 2009
from 49.0% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
15.8%
−0.8 ptssince 2012
from 16.6% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
8.5%
−81.7 ptssince 2013
from 90.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
85.1%
+11.3 ptssince 2017
from 73.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
96.7%
+0.4 ptssince 2016
from 96.3% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.2%
−2.1 ptssince 2016
from 3.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married23.4%(277)
Married64.9%(769)
Widowed4.1%(49)
Divorced7.6%(90)
Women 15+
Never married16.8%(192)
Married63.4%(727)
Widowed10.1%(116)
Divorced9.7%(111)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Harlan County to nearby counties

HARLAN COUNTY VS
Franklin County
Income$60,195−15%
Home value$95,600−34%
Population2,795−7%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HARLAN COUNTY VS
Phelps County
Income$68,919−2%
Home value$194,900+34%
Population8,994+200%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HARLAN COUNTY VS
Furnas County
Income$61,048−14%
Home value$98,400−33%
Population4,524+51%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HARLAN COUNTY VS
Phillips County
Income$62,123−12%
Home value$96,500−34%
Population4,728+58%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Harlan County, Nebraska?

Harlan County, Nebraska has about 2,847 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Harlan County, Nebraska earns about $70,625 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Harlan County, Nebraska expensive?

In Harlan County, Nebraska, the median home is worth about $145,800, and the typical rent is about $657 a month.

How educated are people in Harlan County, Nebraska?

About 29.2% of adults age 25 and over in Harlan County, Nebraska hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Harlan County, Nebraska?

About 6.7% of people in Harlan County, Nebraska live below the federal poverty line.

Has Harlan County, Nebraska grown since 1990?

Yes, Harlan County, Nebraska has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 963 residents, a change of about -25 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

1 census tract
Census Tract 9642
4 ZIP codes
ZIP 68920ZIP 68966ZIP 68971ZIP 68977
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →