United States › Nebraska › Valley County COUNTY
Valley County Nebraska · 4,094 residents (2025 est.) · 568 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2020 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS
The short version
With 4,066 people, Valley County is a county in Nebraska. At a median age of 46.1, this is an older place than the country as a whole. Density works out to 7 people per square mile. Home values have roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $154,600. 2% of locals were born outside the United States. 25% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 46.1
US median: 38.9
Less educated
25% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 80%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 4,647 in 2000
4,094 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
from 7 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 43.5 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
4K 4K 5K 5K 5K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Valley County Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $61,852
+22%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $27,926 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $14,996 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 14.8% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 12.8% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.421 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 18.2%
Professional, scientific, technical 3.1%
Public administration 2.6%
Transportation & warehousing 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food 2%
Education & health services 1.6%
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$154,600
+80%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $47,200 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$626
+19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $289 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 75.7% in 2000
26.2% rent
from 15.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 2.12 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 17.7% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 30.1% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 1.9 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 97.5%(4,531)
Hispanic / Latino 1.6%(75)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 94.7%(3,849)
Hispanic / Latino 2.9%(119)
from 5 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
from 18 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
+ 9 more ancestry groups with data from 16.4% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 84.7% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 4.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 12.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 71.9% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 10.9% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 11.8% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 2.9% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 1.3% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 9.3% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 1.3% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 64.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 85.0% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 17.9% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 39.9% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 1.5% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 13.7% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 15.7% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 14.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 65.6% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 84.2% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 89.0% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 97.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 1.7% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 14.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 48.1% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 30.6% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 25.6% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 14.3% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 5.6% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 74.4% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 38.6% 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) 8.6%(15)
Share of the 174 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 Valley County Head to head
Compare Valley County to nearby counties VALLEY COUNTY VS
Greeley County
Income $63,929 +3%
Home value $120,000 −22%
Population 2,154 −47%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
VALLEY COUNTY VS
Garfield County
Income $62,804 +2%
Home value $176,600 +14%
Population 1,710 −58%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
VALLEY COUNTY VS
Sherman County
Income $63,578 +3%
Home value $152,000 −2%
Population 2,924 −29%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
VALLEY COUNTY VS
Howard County
Income $76,767 +24%
Home value $209,100 +35%
Population 6,538 +60%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Valley County, Nebraska? Valley County, Nebraska has about 4,066 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Valley County, Nebraska? The typical household in Valley County, Nebraska earns about $61,852 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Valley County, Nebraska expensive? In Valley County, Nebraska, the median home is worth about $154,600, and the typical rent is about $626 a month.
How educated are people in Valley County, Nebraska? About 25.3% of adults age 25 and over in Valley County, Nebraska hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Valley County, Nebraska? About 9.3% of people in Valley County, Nebraska live below the federal poverty line.
Has Valley County, Nebraska grown since 1990? Yes, Valley County, Nebraska has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 1,103 residents, a change of about -21 percent over that period.
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