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COUNTY

Thayer County

Nebraska · 4,842 residents (2025 est.) · 573.789 sq mi
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The short version

Thayer County has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $66,213. Population has fallen 19% since 2000, a loss of 1,154 residents. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $122,800. With a median age of 46.0, the population is older than the US median of 38.9.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 46.0
US median: 38.9
Less educated
24% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 56%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
4,901
−19%since 2000
from 6,055 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
9 / sq mi
−5%since 2009
from 9 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
46.0
+4%since 2000
from 44.1 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:4,842 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
5K5K6K6K7K1990201020202024Thayer County
20245K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 54.9%(242)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96%(295)
US avg: 6%
10 to 147.3%(358)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 196.2%(302)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.7%(228)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 349.2%(452)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4410.5%(515)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5411.7%(573)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6414.2%(696)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7414.3%(700)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 846.3%(309)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over4.7%(231)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$66,213
+18%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $30,740 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$35,611
+109%since 2000
from $17,043 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
44.4%
+28.2 ptssince 2009
from 16.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
9.0%
−1.7 ptssince 2000
from 10.7% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.416
+4%since 2010
from 0.398 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Agriculture, forestry, fishing20.7%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction20.2%
US avg: 1.2%
Retail trade12.7%
US avg: 9.9%
Information10.9%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade6.6%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance4.6%
US avg: 5.9%
Other services4.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration4.1%
US avg: 4.8%
Education & health services2.8%
US avg: 0.9%
Professional, scientific, technical1.7%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing1.5%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.3%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0.5%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$122,800
+56%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $43,200 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$766
+31%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $321 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
77.5%
−2.5 ptssince 2000
from 80.0% in 2000
22.5% rent
Vacancy rate
16.4%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 17.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
13.7%
−6.8 ptssince 2009
from 20.4% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
24.7%
−3.8 ptssince 2009
from 28.5% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
1.9
+17%since 2009
from 1.6 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
80
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Thayer County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic98.1%(5,942)
Black0%(1)
Hispanic / Latino1%(61)
Asian0.1%(7)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic93.1%(4,564)
Black0.1%(3)
Hispanic / Latino3.2%(159)
Asian0.1%(4)
Other3.5%(171)
Diversity Score
16
+169%since 2009
from 6 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
11
+93%since 2020
from 6 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
Mexican2.7%(132)
Honduran0.1%(3)
Asian origin
Burmese0%(1)
Ancestry
German48.6%(2,381)
Irish10.9%(535)
English9.5%(468)
Czech3.9%(193)
American3%(148)
French2.1%(104)
Danish2.1%(101)
Swedish1.8%(86)
Polish1%(47)
Dutch0.9%(43)
Scottish0.8%(38)
+ 8 more ancestry groups with data
Welsh0.6%(31)
Norwegian0.4%(19)
Russian0.3%(14)
Italian0.3%(13)
Swiss0.2%(12)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest English population · Largest Czech population · Largest American population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
23.8%
+8.8 ptssince 2000
from 15.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
94.9%
+14.0 ptssince 2000
from 80.9% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
7.5%
+3.5 ptssince 2000
from 4.0% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
16.4 min
+50%since 2000
from 10.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
82.7%
+6.2 ptssince 2009
from 76.6% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.8%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 8.2% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.1%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
5.2%
−3.4 ptssince 2009
from 8.6% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.9%
−2.1 ptssince 2009
from 5.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 1.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
3.4%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 3.8% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
2.0%
+0.3 ptssince 2011
from 1.7% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
63.3%
+2.3 ptssince 2011
from 61.1% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
15.9%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 15.0% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
37.5%
−26.9 ptssince 2009
from 64.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.8%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 48.6% in 2009
Female
50.2%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 51.4% in 2009
Foreign born
1.0%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.1%
−41.8 ptssince 2009
from 48.0% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
13.7%
−1.6 ptssince 2012
from 15.3% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.2%
−86.9 ptssince 2013
from 92.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
87.1%
+13.5 ptssince 2017
from 73.6% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
97.5%
+0.2 ptssince 2016
from 97.3% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.6%
−0.7 ptssince 2016
from 2.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married24.1%(484)
Married62.2%(1,249)
Widowed4.9%(98)
Divorced8.8%(177)
Women 15+
Never married18.6%(372)
Married61%(1,218)
Widowed11.9%(237)
Divorced8.6%(171)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

Places similar to Thayer County

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Pop 4,866
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Pop 4,732
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Pop 4,632
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Pop 4,636
Places similar to Thayer County
Head to head

Compare Thayer County to nearby counties

THAYER COUNTY VS
Nuckolls County
Income$73,976+12%
Home value$96,500−21%
Population4,100−15%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
THAYER COUNTY VS
Jefferson County
Income$59,044−11%
Home value$129,500+5%
Population7,070+46%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
THAYER COUNTY VS
Republic County
Income$56,833−14%
Home value$75,600−38%
Population4,640−4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
THAYER COUNTY VS
Fillmore County
Income$76,295+15%
Home value$151,000+23%
Population5,458+13%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Thayer County, Nebraska?

Thayer County, Nebraska has about 4,901 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Thayer County, Nebraska earns about $66,213 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Thayer County, Nebraska expensive?

In Thayer County, Nebraska, the median home is worth about $122,800, and the typical rent is about $766 a month.

How educated are people in Thayer County, Nebraska?

About 23.8% of adults age 25 and over in Thayer County, Nebraska hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Thayer County, Nebraska?

About 9.0% of people in Thayer County, Nebraska live below the federal poverty line.

Has Thayer County, Nebraska grown since 1990?

Yes, Thayer County, Nebraska has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 1,734 residents, a change of about -26 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

2 census tracts
Census Tract 9631Census Tract 9632
11 ZIP codes
ZIP 68370ZIP 68340ZIP 68322ZIP 68335ZIP 68327ZIP 68326ZIP 68303ZIP 68325ZIP 68315ZIP 68375ZIP 68362
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →