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COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Harlan County

Nebraska · 3,073 residents · 553 sq mi
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With 3,073 people, Harlan County is a county in Nebraska. The median age is 50.9, about 12 years above the US median. Owners hold 82% of the housing stock. The typical home is worth $113,900, having more than doubled since 2000. 3% of locals were born outside the United States. About 24% of adults have finished a four-year degree.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 50.9
US median: 38.8
Less educated
24% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 57%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

3,073
−19%since 2000
from 3,786 in 2000
1990 – 2025
50.9
+14%since 2000
from 44.5 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Land area
553 sq mi
Population, 19902024
3K3K3K4K4K19902000201020202024Harlan County
20243K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 54.3%(131)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.4%(165)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 147.4%(226)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 195.4%(166)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 243%(91)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 348.9%(272)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 449.2%(283)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5410.9%(335)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6417.6%(542)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 7415%(462)
US avg: 10%
75 to 848.7%(267)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over4.3%(133)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$51,534
+12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $30,679 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
$31,978
+105%since 2000
from $15,618 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
37.3%
+22.0 ptssince 2009
from 15.3% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
10.2%
+0.1 ptssince 2000
from 10.1% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Agriculture, forestry, fishing15.2%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction14.1%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing9.2%
US avg: 2.5%
Wholesale trade7.7%
US avg: 6.7%
Retail trade7.1%
US avg: 10%
Information6.4%
US avg: 11.1%
Other services5.1%
US avg: 6.6%
Public administration4.8%
US avg: 4.7%
Finance & insurance2.4%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical1.8%
US avg: 4.7%
Manufacturing1.1%
US avg: 0.5%
Arts, entertainment, food1%
US avg: 2%
Education & health services0.6%
US avg: 0.8%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

$113,900
+57%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $48,300 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
$677
+22%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $370 in 2000
US average: $1,124
81.8%
+1.6 ptssince 2000
from 80.3% in 2000
18.2% rent
2.20 people
+1%since 2009
from 2.17 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
2.2
+31%since 2009
from 1.7 in 2009
2009 – 2024
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-Hispanic98.5%(3,729)
Black0.1%(5)
Hispanic / Latino0.8%(29)
Asian0.1%(3)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic94.6%(2,907)
Black0%(1)
Hispanic / Latino2.9%(90)
Asian0.4%(11)
Other0.4%(14)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican2.6%(88)
Asian origin
Japanese1%(34)
Korean0.1%(5)
Ancestry
German34.9%(1,178)
English10%(338)
Swedish9.3%(315)
Irish7.2%(243)
American4.6%(154)
Danish2.1%(70)
Scottish2%(67)
Czech1.9%(63)
Dutch1.4%(47)
French1.2%(39)
Polish0.9%(31)
Welsh0.7%(25)
+ 12 more ancestry groups with data
Norwegian0.7%(24)
Russian0.6%(20)
British0.4%(15)
Belgian0.4%(13)
Scotch-Irish0.4%(12)
Swiss0.2%(8)
Italian0.2%(7)
Lebanese0.1%(5)
Finnish0.1%(3)
Slovene0.1%(3)
Section 05

Education

23.8%
+8.5 ptssince 2000
from 15.3% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
93.4%
+7.6 ptssince 2000
from 85.8% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
4.8%
+1.4 ptssince 2000
from 3.4% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

19.5 min
+41%since 2000
from 13.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
77.7%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 77.9% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
1.5%
−2.5 ptssince 2009
from 4.0% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

1.2%
−0.6 ptssince 2011
from 1.9% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
63.2%
+0.3 ptssince 2011
from 62.9% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
83.2%
US average: 73.3%
35.4%
−6.3 ptssince 2009
from 41.7% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

49.9%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 48.8% in 2009
50.1%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 51.2% in 2009
2.9%
+2.6 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
6.4%
−3.4 ptssince 2013
from 9.8% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
89.6%
US average: 91.9%
91.0%
US average: 86.2%
Marital status (2024)
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
Section 09

Health coverage

6.4%
−3.4 ptssince 2013
from 9.8% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
58.4%
US average: 55.4%
Direct-purchase
30.8%
US average: 13.7%
26.3%
US average: 17.6%
11.7%
US average: 20.0%
VA health care
6.4%
US average: 2.3%
Any private
79.4%
US average: 68.1%
Any public
35.5%
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)14.5%(41)
US avg: 20.6%
Gulf War (1990s)15.2%(43)
US avg: 21.4%
Vietnam era41%(116)
US avg: 35.2%
Korean War12.4%(35)
US avg: 7.6%
World War II2.5%(7)
US avg: 2.9%

Share of the 283 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.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Harlan County, Nebraska?

Harlan County, Nebraska has about 3,073 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Harlan County, Nebraska earns about $51,534 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 $113,900, and the typical rent is about $677 a month.

How educated are people in Harlan County, Nebraska?

About 23.8% 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 10.2% 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 737 residents, a change of about -19 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 →