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COUNTY

Thurston County

Nebraska · 6,752 residents (2025 est.) · 393.592 sq mi
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#37Youngest by median ageof 3,14429.2
The short version

Thurston County has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $69,177. Population has declined 8% since 2000. 22% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $114,600. At a median age of 29.2, residents skew younger than the country as a whole.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 29.2
US median: 38.9
Less educated
22% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
6,627
−8%since 2000
from 7,171 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
17 / sq mi
−9%since 2009
from 18 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
29.2
−2%since 2000
from 29.8 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:6,752 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
7K7K7K7K7K1990201020202024Thurston County
20247K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 59.4%(624)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 98.9%(589)
US avg: 6%
10 to 149.9%(657)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 199.4%(623)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 247.1%(473)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3412.8%(850)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4410.2%(677)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 549.1%(605)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6410.5%(695)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 747.5%(496)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 843.9%(257)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.2%(81)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$69,177
+35%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $28,170 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$27,509
+151%since 2000
from $10,951 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
44.8%
+26.5 ptssince 2009
from 18.4% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
13.9%
−11.7 ptssince 2000
from 25.6% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.422
−3%since 2010
from 0.436 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Agriculture, forestry, fishing8.7%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction8.7%
US avg: 1.2%
Retail trade8.2%
US avg: 9.9%
Information7.3%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade6.1%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance4.9%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical4.5%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services2.7%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration2%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing1.4%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services0.4%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0.1%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$114,600
+18%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $53,400 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$699
+27%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $301 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
61.0%
+0.3 ptssince 2000
from 60.8% in 2000
39.0% rent
Vacancy rate
13.1%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 13.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
15.2%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 15.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
22.9%
−8.1 ptssince 2009
from 31.0% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
1.7
+5%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
76
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Thurston County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic45.5%(3,262)
Black0.1%(9)
Hispanic / Latino2.4%(174)
Asian0%(1)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic36.2%(2,397)
Black0.3%(18)
Hispanic / Latino4.9%(322)
Asian1.4%(93)
Other57.3%(3,797)
Diversity Score
67
−6%since 2009
from 71 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
26
+52%since 2020
from 17 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
Mexican3.8%(249)
Cuban0.4%(28)
Guatemalan0.3%(20)
Asian origin
Burmese0.7%(49)
Nepalese0.3%(20)
Filipino0.2%(13)
Korean0.1%(6)
Japanese0.1%(4)
Ancestry
German17.1%(1,131)
Irish4%(264)
Swedish3.1%(204)
English2.3%(151)
Polish1.4%(96)
American1.4%(94)
Czech1.4%(94)
Norwegian1%(65)
Dutch0.8%(56)
French0.6%(39)
Danish0.6%(38)
Italian0.6%(38)
+ 12 more ancestry groups with data
Scottish0.6%(37)
Scotch-Irish0.2%(15)
Brazilian0.2%(10)
Arab0.1%(8)
Lebanese0.1%(8)
British0.1%(8)
Hungarian0.1%(6)
Greek0%(2)
Russian0%(2)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest Mexican population · Largest Swedish population · Largest English population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
22.2%
+10.2 ptssince 2000
from 12.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
93.9%
+13.6 ptssince 2000
from 80.4% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
6.7%
+3.0 ptssince 2000
from 3.7% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
21.3 min
+52%since 2000
from 14.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
83.4%
+12.5 ptssince 2009
from 70.9% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.6%
−5.2 ptssince 2009
from 12.8% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.7%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 1.4% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
3.2%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 4.2% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
4.3%
−5.0 ptssince 2009
from 9.2% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.4%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 6.8% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
10.0%
−3.7 ptssince 2011
from 13.7% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
65.5%
+3.6 ptssince 2011
from 61.8% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
29.1%
−3.8 ptssince 2009
from 32.9% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
37.8%
−24.5 ptssince 2009
from 62.3% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.3%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 49.5% in 2009
Female
50.7%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 50.5% in 2009
Foreign born
1.8%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.7% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.6%
−42.9 ptssince 2009
from 48.5% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
8.7%
−6.6 ptssince 2012
from 15.3% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
9.4%
−60.4 ptssince 2013
from 69.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
87.2%
+28.2 ptssince 2017
from 59.0% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
95.2%
+1.1 ptssince 2016
from 94.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.2%
−1.5 ptssince 2016
from 2.7% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married46.9%(1,099)
Married44%(1,030)
Widowed2%(46)
Divorced7.2%(168)
Women 15+
Never married42%(1,015)
Married40.8%(986)
Widowed7.2%(174)
Divorced9.9%(239)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Thurston County to nearby counties

THURSTON COUNTY VS
Dakota County
Income$70,329+2%
Home value$185,700+62%
Population21,687+221%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
THURSTON COUNTY VS
Cuming County
Income$71,104+3%
Home value$178,800+56%
Population8,823+31%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
THURSTON COUNTY VS
Burt County
Income$63,685−8%
Home value$147,000+28%
Population6,678−1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
THURSTON COUNTY VS
Dixon County
Income$72,454+5%
Home value$155,900+36%
Population5,602−17%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Thurston County, Nebraska?

Thurston County, Nebraska has about 6,627 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Thurston County, Nebraska earns about $69,177 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Thurston County, Nebraska expensive?

In Thurston County, Nebraska, the median home is worth about $114,600, and the typical rent is about $699 a month.

How educated are people in Thurston County, Nebraska?

About 22.2% of adults age 25 and over in Thurston County, Nebraska hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Thurston County, Nebraska?

About 13.9% of people in Thurston County, Nebraska live below the federal poverty line.

Has Thurston County, Nebraska grown since 1990?

Yes, Thurston County, Nebraska has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 309 residents, a change of about -4 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

2 census tracts
Census Tract 9401Census Tract 9402
7 ZIP codes
ZIP 68071ZIP 68047ZIP 68733ZIP 68067ZIP 68039ZIP 68055ZIP 68062
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →