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COUNTY

Valley County

Nebraska · 4,094 residents (2025 est.) · 568.09 sq mi
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Notable rankings
#27Lowest unemploymentof 3,1440.2%
The short version

Valley County has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $61,852. Population has declined 13% since 2000. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $154,600. With a median age of 46.1, 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 46.1
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

Total population
4,066
−13%since 2000
from 4,647 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
7 / sq mi
−4%since 2009
from 7 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
46.1
+6%since 2000
from 43.5 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:4,094 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
4K4K5K5K5K1990201020202024Valley County
20244K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55.8%(235)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.8%(276)
US avg: 6%
10 to 145.8%(234)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 195.6%(229)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.3%(174)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3411.3%(460)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 449.7%(394)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5410.3%(420)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6414.6%(594)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7413.5%(549)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 849.8%(399)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2.5%(102)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$61,852
+22%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $27,926 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$39,614
+164%since 2000
from $14,996 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
41.0%
+26.3 ptssince 2009
from 14.8% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
9.3%
−3.5 ptssince 2000
from 12.8% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.447
+6%since 2010
from 0.421 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Agriculture, forestry, fishing18.2%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction17.8%
US avg: 1.2%
Information15.3%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade8.3%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade5%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance4.7%
US avg: 5.9%
Other services3.6%
US avg: 6.7%
Professional, scientific, technical3.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration2.6%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing2.2%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food2%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services1.6%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.4%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$154,600
+80%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $47,200 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$626
+19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $289 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
73.8%
−1.9 ptssince 2000
from 75.7% in 2000
26.2% rent
Vacancy rate
14.8%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 15.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
15.5%
−2.2 ptssince 2009
from 17.7% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
16.3%
−13.7 ptssince 2009
from 30.1% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.5
+34%since 2009
from 1.9 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
79
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Valley County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic97.5%(4,531)
Black0%(2)
Hispanic / Latino1.6%(75)
Asian0.1%(5)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic94.7%(3,849)
Black0%(1)
Hispanic / Latino2.9%(119)
Asian0.1%(6)
Other2.2%(91)
Diversity Score
13
+160%since 2009
from 5 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
5
−75%since 2020
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

Hispanic origin
Mexican1.3%(53)
Puerto Rican0.5%(21)
Dominican0.1%(6)
Spaniard0.1%(3)
Asian origin
Vietnamese0.1%(3)
Chinese0%(2)
Ancestry
German38.5%(1,566)
English11.4%(463)
Irish10.8%(439)
Polish9.8%(398)
Czech9.3%(377)
American5.6%(228)
Italian2.5%(101)
Swedish2%(82)
Danish1.8%(74)
Norwegian1.5%(60)
Dutch1%(42)
Scottish0.8%(32)
+ 9 more ancestry groups with data
French0.7%(28)
Swiss0.6%(26)
Russian0.5%(21)
Hungarian0.3%(13)
Scotch-Irish0.3%(13)
Austrian0.1%(4)
Welsh0.1%(4)
Belgian0%(1)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest English population · Largest Irish population · Largest Polish population · Largest Czech population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
25.3%
+8.9 ptssince 2000
from 16.4% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
95.1%
+10.4 ptssince 2000
from 84.7% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
6.2%
+2.0 ptssince 2000
from 4.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
18.0 min
+40%since 2000
from 12.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
82.7%
+10.8 ptssince 2009
from 71.9% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
8.6%
−2.3 ptssince 2009
from 10.9% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
5.0%
−6.8 ptssince 2009
from 11.8% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.1%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 2.9% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 1.3% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
3.5%
−5.8 ptssince 2009
from 9.3% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
0.2%
−1.1 ptssince 2011
from 1.3% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
64.5%
−0.1 ptssince 2011
from 64.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
14.8%
−3.2 ptssince 2009
from 17.9% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
37.4%
−26.6 ptssince 2009
from 64.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.2%
+2.4 ptssince 2009
from 47.8% in 2009
Female
49.8%
−2.4 ptssince 2009
from 52.2% in 2009
Foreign born
1.9%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 1.5% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.5%
−42.4 ptssince 2009
from 47.9% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
19.6%
+3.9 ptssince 2012
from 15.7% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.6%
−79.8 ptssince 2013
from 85.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
83.2%
+17.6 ptssince 2017
from 65.6% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
96.9%
−0.2 ptssince 2016
from 97.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.6%
Unchangedsince 2016
from 1.7% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married29.1%(484)
Married59.5%(991)
Widowed4.2%(70)
Divorced7.2%(120)
Women 15+
Never married19%(314)
Married63.4%(1,050)
Widowed7.1%(117)
Divorced10.6%(175)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

Places similar to Valley County

Barber County
Pop 4,083
Hickman County
Pop 4,372
Stafford County
Pop 4,005
Rooks County
Pop 4,646
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%
Population2,154−47%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
VALLEY COUNTY VS
Garfield County
Income$62,804+2%
Home value$176,600+14%
Population1,710−58%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
VALLEY COUNTY VS
Sherman County
Income$63,578+3%
Home value$152,000−2%
Population2,924−29%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
VALLEY COUNTY VS
Howard County
Income$76,767+24%
Home value$209,100+35%
Population6,538+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.

Keep going

Explore from here

2 census tracts
Census Tract 9714Census Tract 9713
4 ZIP codes
ZIP 68862ZIP 68815ZIP 68859ZIP 68837
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →