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MICROPOLITAN AREA

Norfolk Micro

Norfolk, NE · 3 counties · 49,228 residents (2025 est.) · 1,573 sq mi
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The short version

With 48,653 people, Norfolk is a metro area. About 24% of adults have finished a four-year degree. Getting to work takes 16 minutes on average. The typical home is worth $205,057, having more than doubled since 2000. Density works out to 31 people per square mile. 6% of residents were born outside the United States.

At a glance
Lower income
median household income $66,609, below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 38.1
US median: 38.9
Less educated
24% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 49%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place

What stands out about Norfolk

What changed most since 1990

  • Median home value (2024 dollars)$106,412 → $205,057 (+93%)US over the same years: +67%

Among the 12 metro and micro areas based in Nebraska

  • 10th in household income$66,609
  • 6th in share with a bachelor's degree23.8%
  • 7th in home value$205,057
  • 8th in diversity score39.5
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
48,653
−2%since 2000
from 49,538 in 2000
49,228 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1990 – 2025
Population density
31 / sq mi
−2%since 2000
from 31 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
38.1
+7%since 2000
from 35.6 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Land area
1,573 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
46K47K48K49K50K19902000201020202024Norfolk
202449K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 56.8%(3,299)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 97.1%(3,462)
US avg: 6%
10 to 147%(3,422)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 196.9%(3,362)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 246%(2,916)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3411.5%(5,610)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4412.6%(6,120)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5410.5%(5,086)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6413.4%(6,542)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7410.4%(5,057)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 844.8%(2,331)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over3%(1,446)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$66,609
+3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $35,354 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$36,224
+119%since 2000
from $16,505 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
43.3%
+20.1 ptssince 2009
from 23.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
11.8%
+1.1 ptssince 2000
from 10.7% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.458
+13%since 2010
from 0.407 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade14.5%
US avg: 9.9%
Information11.7%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade6.5%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance6.2%
US avg: 5.9%
Other services6.1%
US avg: 6.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing5.8%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction5.6%
US avg: 1.2%
Public administration5.1%
US avg: 4.8%
Professional, scientific, technical4.9%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing3.1%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services1.3%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food1.2%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0.2%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$205,057
+49%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $75,580 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$884
+15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $421 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
68.9%
−0.5 ptssince 2000
from 69.4% in 2000
31.1% rent
Vacancy rate
7.2%
−1.9 ptssince 2009
from 9.1% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Persons per household
2.42 people
−1%since 2009
from 2.45 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
Owner cost-burdened
19.1%
−2.2 ptssince 2009
from 21.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
33.1%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 32.1% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.1
+45%since 2009
from 2.1 in 2009
1990 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
57
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic90.9%(45,034)
Black0.7%(351)
Hispanic / Latino6.6%(3,247)
Asian0.3%(165)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic81.1%(39,461)
Black0.6%(315)
Hispanic / Latino13.2%(6,401)
Asian1.1%(528)
Other4%(1,948)
Diversity Score
40
+48%since 2009
from 27 in 2009
1990 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
28
−8%since 2020
from 30 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
Mexican9.8%(4,754)
Cuban1.2%(508)
Salvadoran0.6%(199)
Guatemalan0.3%(167)
Venezuelan0.4%(128)
Honduran0.3%(94)
Spaniard0.2%(88)
Puerto Rican0.2%(66)
Dominican0.1%(48)
Panamanian0.1%(42)
+ 3 more hispanic origin groups with data
Nicaraguan0.1%(38)
Colombian0.1%(23)
Asian origin
Burmese0.6%(212)
Filipino0.3%(121)
Asian Indian0.3%(96)
Korean0.2%(67)
Hmong0.1%(8)
Thai0.1%(7)
Chinese0%(3)
Pacific Islander origin
Samoan0.3%(110)
Ancestry
German41.4%(20,159)
Irish9.6%(4,665)
English5.5%(2,657)
Czech4.1%(2,010)
American3.5%(1,695)
Swedish3%(1,468)
Norwegian1.6%(777)
Danish1.3%(642)
Polish1.3%(618)
French1.2%(595)
Dutch0.8%(391)
Italian0.8%(380)
+ 27 more ancestry groups with data
Scottish0.7%(340)
Ukrainian0.4%(173)
Scotch-Irish0.3%(127)
Russian0.3%(112)
Lithuanian0.3%(104)
Welsh0.2%(101)
Swiss0.2%(100)
Austrian0.2%(99)
British0.2%(91)
West Indian0.2%(73)
Haitian0.2%(63)
Arab0.1%(42)
Canadian0.6%(41)
Lebanese0.1%(37)
Finnish0.1%(29)
Greek0%(15)
Slovene0%(15)
Hungarian0%(12)
Israeli0%(11)
Croatian0%(10)
Serbian0%(10)
Jamaican0%(10)
Syrian0.1%(5)
Slovak0%(2)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
23.8%
+7.8 ptssince 2000
from 16.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
91.9%
+8.6 ptssince 2000
from 83.4% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
7.8%
+3.4 ptssince 2000
from 4.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
16.1 min
+43%since 2000
from 11.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
80.0%
+1.6 ptssince 2009
from 78.4% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
10.3%
−2.1 ptssince 2009
from 12.4% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
6.2%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 4.7% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.1%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 3.7% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.2%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.7%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 5.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
2.6%
−1.5 ptssince 2011
from 4.0% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
67.0%
−4.6 ptssince 2011
from 71.6% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
81.2%
−0.5 ptssince 2020
from 81.7% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
Self-employed
14.1%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 13.1% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
34.0%
+6.6 ptssince 2009
from 27.3% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.0%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 49.8% in 2009
Female
50.0%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 50.2% in 2009
Foreign born
6.3%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 5.4% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.1%
−3.8 ptssince 2009
from 10.0% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
12.6%
+2.6 ptssince 2012
from 10.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
6.9%
−5.1 ptssince 2013
from 12.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
84.5%
+11.6 ptssince 2017
from 72.9% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
92.9%
+3.8 ptssince 2020
from 89.2% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
Same house as last year
89.3%
+3.0 ptssince 2020
from 86.3% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
English only at home
89.5%
−0.6 ptssince 2016
from 90.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
8.9%
Unchangedsince 2016
from 8.9% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married32.6%(6,328)
Married55.2%(10,719)
Widowed3.5%(682)
Divorced8.7%(1,682)
Women 15+
Never married24.5%(4,671)
Married54.3%(10,355)
Widowed9.4%(1,793)
Divorced11.8%(2,240)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
6.9%
−5.1 ptssince 2013
from 12.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Employer-based
58.1%
−1.2 ptssince 2020
from 59.3% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
19.4%
+0.5 ptssince 2020
from 18.9% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
Medicare
18.7%
+1.5 ptssince 2020
from 17.2% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
Medicaid
14.1%
+0.9 ptssince 2020
from 13.2% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
2.1%
−0.1 ptssince 2020
from 2.2% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
74.4%
−1.9 ptssince 2020
from 76.3% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
30.5%
+2.4 ptssince 2020
from 28.1% 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)16.8%(374)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)18.5%(413)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era31.5%(701)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War12.1%(270)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II3%(66)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 2,227 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.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Over time

Norfolk, decade by decade

Norfolk population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
YearPopulationMedian household incomeMedian home valueBachelor's degree+Diversity score
199046,726$57,809$106,41211.8%6.5
200049,538$64,403$137,68116.0%21.1
201048,271$65,003$139,50718.2%29.5
202048,744$66,206$180,56523.4%38.9
202448,653$66,609$205,05723.8%39.5

Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.

In this metro

Largest cities

NorfolkCENTRAL26,677Madison2,162Pierce1,849Woodland Park1,657Stanton1,506Plainview1,284Battle Creek1,188Osmond803Newman Grove632Hadar291Meadow Grove267Pilger230Foster46McLean38
What's inside

3 component counties

Madison CountyCENTRAL36,106Pierce County7,378Stanton County5,744
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Norfolk

Del Rio
Pop 47,835
Cornelia
Pop 50,416
Gloversville
Pop 52,216
Amsterdam
Pop 50,046
Places similar to Norfolk
Head to head

Compare Norfolk side by side

NORFOLK VS
Del Rio
Income$66,100−1%
Home value$164,600−20%
Population47,835−3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
NORFOLK VS
Cornelia
Income$67,309+1%
Home value$238,300+16%
Population50,416+2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
NORFOLK VS
Gloversville
Income$66,533same
Home value$163,100−20%
Population52,216+6%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
NORFOLK VS
Amsterdam
Income$64,943−3%
Home value$157,500−23%
Population50,046+2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Norfolk, NE?

Norfolk, NE has about 48,653 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Norfolk, NE?

The typical household in Norfolk, NE earns about $66,609 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Norfolk, NE expensive?

In Norfolk, NE, the median home is worth about $205,057, and the typical rent is about $884 a month.

How educated are people in Norfolk, NE?

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

What is the poverty rate in Norfolk, NE?

About 11.8% of people in Norfolk, NE live below the federal poverty line.

Has Norfolk, NE grown since 1990?

Yes, Norfolk, NE has grown since 1990. The population has added about 1,927 residents, a change of about 4 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →