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COUNTY

Howard County

Nebraska · 6,538 residents (2025 est.) · 569.266 sq mi
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Notable rankings
#34Lowest poverty rateof 3,1444.8%
The short version

Howard County has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $76,767. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $209,100. Poverty is rare here, at 4.8% of residents. 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 42.2
US median: 38.9
Less educated
26% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 58%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
6,534
−1%since 2000
from 6,567 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
11 / sq mi
+1%since 2009
from 11 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
42.2
+11%since 2000
from 38.1 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:6,538 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
6K6K6K6K7K1990201020202024Howard County
20247K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 56.6%(431)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.9%(387)
US avg: 6%
10 to 147.4%(484)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 197.1%(462)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.6%(302)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 349.9%(648)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4411.4%(743)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5410.9%(714)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6413.5%(882)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7412.7%(827)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 846.7%(438)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over3.3%(216)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$76,767
+27%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $33,305 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$38,592
+148%since 2000
from $15,535 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
51.6%
+31.3 ptssince 2009
from 20.4% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
4.8%
−6.9 ptssince 2000
from 11.7% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.423
+8%since 2010
from 0.391 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information10.9%
US avg: 10.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing10.2%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction9.4%
US avg: 1.2%
Retail trade9.4%
US avg: 9.9%
Other services9.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration8%
US avg: 4.8%
Finance & insurance5.9%
US avg: 5.9%
Wholesale trade5.3%
US avg: 6.9%
Transportation & warehousing4.4%
US avg: 2.2%
Professional, scientific, technical3.9%
US avg: 5.1%
Education & health services2%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.7%
US avg: 0.4%
Arts, entertainment, food0.2%
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$209,100
+58%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $72,500 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$777
+6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $403 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
78.2%
+1.3 ptssince 2000
from 76.9% in 2000
21.8% rent
Vacancy rate
13.5%
+4.7 ptssince 2009
from 8.7% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
17.2%
−8.6 ptssince 2009
from 25.8% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
25.9%
+1.7 ptssince 2009
from 24.2% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.7
+35%since 2009
from 2.0 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
92
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Howard County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic98%(6,438)
Black0.3%(19)
Hispanic / Latino1%(66)
Asian0.1%(6)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic91.1%(5,954)
Black0.6%(42)
Hispanic / Latino3.2%(212)
Asian0.1%(4)
Other4.9%(322)
Diversity Score
21
+206%since 2009
from 7 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
16
−31%since 2020
from 23 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican2.2%(143)
Guatemalan0.3%(21)
Colombian0.3%(18)
Spaniard0.2%(10)
Asian origin
Filipino0.1%(4)
Ancestry
German36.2%(2,367)
Irish14.1%(922)
English11.7%(766)
Polish10.2%(669)
Danish6.3%(412)
American4.9%(323)
Czech4.9%(323)
Swedish2.4%(155)
Scottish1.4%(91)
Dutch1.2%(76)
Austrian0.8%(52)
Norwegian0.7%(48)
+ 14 more ancestry groups with data
Scotch-Irish0.7%(43)
Canadian0.5%(34)
French0.4%(28)
Italian0.3%(19)
Lithuanian0.2%(15)
Finnish0.2%(14)
Welsh0.2%(14)
Russian0.2%(13)
Swiss0.2%(11)
British0.1%(5)
Hungarian0.1%(5)
Greek0%(1)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest English population · Largest Polish population · Largest Danish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
26.0%
+11.8 ptssince 2000
from 14.2% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
95.9%
+8.6 ptssince 2000
from 87.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
5.2%
+1.4 ptssince 2000
from 3.8% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
26.7 min
+80%since 2000
from 14.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
80.8%
+5.2 ptssince 2009
from 75.6% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
6.4%
−4.8 ptssince 2009
from 11.2% 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%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 9.2% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.1%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 2.4% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
3.0%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 2.5% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.8%
−1.3 ptssince 2011
from 5.0% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
64.9%
−2.9 ptssince 2011
from 67.8% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
11.8%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 13.2% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
36.5%
−23.7 ptssince 2009
from 60.2% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.9%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 51.1% in 2009
Female
49.1%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 48.9% in 2009
Foreign born
1.7%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.3%
−43.1 ptssince 2009
from 50.5% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
14.1%
+2.9 ptssince 2012
from 11.2% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
6.8%
−87.9 ptssince 2013
from 94.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
85.3%
+15.2 ptssince 2017
from 70.1% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
97.5%
−0.1 ptssince 2016
from 97.6% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.6%
+0.7 ptssince 2016
from 0.9% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married27%(723)
Married59.8%(1,602)
Widowed3.8%(103)
Divorced9.4%(251)
Women 15+
Never married18.4%(470)
Married56.9%(1,452)
Widowed13.1%(334)
Divorced11.6%(297)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

Places similar to Howard County

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Pop 6,863
Bear Lake County
Pop 6,727
Fremont County
Pop 6,522
Southeast Fairbanks Census Area
Pop 7,270
Places similar to Howard County
Head to head

Compare Howard County to nearby counties

HOWARD COUNTY VS
Sherman County
Income$63,578−17%
Home value$152,000−27%
Population2,924−55%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HOWARD COUNTY VS
Hall County
Income$69,251−10%
Home value$224,600+7%
Population63,633+873%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HOWARD COUNTY VS
Greeley County
Income$63,929−17%
Home value$120,000−43%
Population2,154−67%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HOWARD COUNTY VS
Merrick County
Income$68,354−11%
Home value$175,900−16%
Population7,905+21%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Howard County, Nebraska?

Howard County, Nebraska has about 6,534 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Howard County, Nebraska earns about $76,767 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Howard County, Nebraska expensive?

In Howard County, Nebraska, the median home is worth about $209,100, and the typical rent is about $777 a month.

How educated are people in Howard County, Nebraska?

About 26.0% of adults age 25 and over in Howard County, Nebraska hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Howard County, Nebraska?

About 4.8% of people in Howard County, Nebraska live below the federal poverty line.

Has Howard County, Nebraska grown since 1990?

Yes, Howard County, Nebraska has grown since 1990. The population has added about 479 residents, a change of about 8 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

2 census tracts
Census Tract 9706Census Tract 9705
6 ZIP codes
ZIP 68873ZIP 68872ZIP 68831ZIP 68835ZIP 68820ZIP 68838
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →