United States › Nebraska › Jefferson County COUNTY
Jefferson County Nebraska · 7,070 residents (2025 est.) · 570 sq mi
Time machine
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The short version
Jefferson County is a county of 7,161 people in Nebraska. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 20% of adults. The median age is 44.4, about 5 years above the US median. The typical home is worth $129,500, having roughly tripled since 2000. There are 13 people per square mile. 3% of people here were born outside the United States.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 44.4
US median: 38.9
Less educated
20% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 59%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 8,333 in 2000
7,070 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
from 13 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 42.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
7K 7K 8K 8K 9K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Jefferson County Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $59,044
−1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $32,629 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $18,380 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 15.7% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 8.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.408 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 13.7%
Professional, scientific, technical 8.2%
Transportation & warehousing 3.3%
Education & health services 1.4%
Arts, entertainment, food 1.1%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
$129,500
+59%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $44,700 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$662
+4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $349 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 76.1% in 2000
25.1% rent
from 16.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 2.23 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 20.1% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 37.4% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
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.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 97.7%(8,139)
Hispanic / Latino 1.3%(109)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 90.5%(6,478)
Hispanic / Latino 5.9%(420)
from 7 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
from 22 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 Ancestry
+ 13 more ancestry groups with data from 14.4% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 84.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 4.0% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 14.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 78.4% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 8.4% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 7.7% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 3.5% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 1.1% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 4.8% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 5.5% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 68.3% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 71.0% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 13.7% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 30.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 13.3% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 13.7% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 11.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 68.7% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 82.0% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 92.3% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 97.2% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 2.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 11.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 50.5% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 25.3% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 26.1% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 14.8% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 3.3% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 74.2% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 36.8% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
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, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 5.5%(20)
Gulf War (1990s) 13.8%(50)
Share of the 362 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 Jefferson County Head to head
Compare Jefferson County to nearby counties JEFFERSON COUNTY VS
Saline County
Income $79,910 +35%
Home value $197,400 +52%
Population 14,996 +112%
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JEFFERSON COUNTY VS
Thayer County
Income $66,213 +12%
Home value $122,800 −5%
Population 4,842 −32%
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JEFFERSON COUNTY VS
Gage County
Income $67,247 +14%
Home value $174,000 +34%
Population 21,711 +207%
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JEFFERSON COUNTY VS
Washington County
Income $65,482 +11%
Home value $117,100 −10%
Population 5,533 −22%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Jefferson County, Nebraska? Jefferson County, Nebraska has about 7,161 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Jefferson County, Nebraska? The typical household in Jefferson County, Nebraska earns about $59,044 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Jefferson County, Nebraska expensive? In Jefferson County, Nebraska, the median home is worth about $129,500, and the typical rent is about $662 a month.
How educated are people in Jefferson County, Nebraska? About 20.2% of adults age 25 and over in Jefferson County, Nebraska hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Jefferson County, Nebraska? About 10.1% of people in Jefferson County, Nebraska live below the federal poverty line.
Has Jefferson County, Nebraska grown since 1990? Yes, Jefferson County, Nebraska has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 1,598 residents, a change of about -18 percent over that period.
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