Arnold, Nebraska Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Arnold, Nebraska had a total population of 945, the 127th largest village in Nebraska, with a median household income of $64,688, which is 15% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 8.0%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.3x.
- Near full employment with an unemployment rate of just 1.6%.
Arnold Quick Facts
How Arnold Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 887 | 945 | +6.5% |
| Median household income | $63,214 | $64,688 | +2.3% |
| Median home value | $118,200 | $146,700 | +24.1% |
How Arnold Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 41 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Arnold Rankings in Nebraska
Explore Nebraska Rankings
Other Cities in Custer County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Broken Bow | 3,502 | $60,129 | 8.8% | $133,200 |
| Ansley | 563 | $64,688 | 5.9% | $89,800 |
| Callaway | 562 | $51,146 | 8.7% | $149,100 |
| Sargent | 534 | $54,423 | 10.7% | $57,900 |
| Merna | 383 | $61,875 | 19.7% | $100,000 |
| Mason City | 189 | $64,375 | 11.1% | N/A |
| Oconto | 167 | $55,625 | 6.0% | $60,000 |
| Anselmo | 93 | $60,673 | 10.8% | $72,500 |
| Comstock | 80 | $47,500 | 3.8% | $80,800 |
| Berwyn | 51 | $46,250 | 9.8% | $75,000 |
Cities Similar to Arnold
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chappell | 915 | $65,000 | $94,000 | 22.5% | 8.6% |
| Tilden | 936 | $69,118 | $156,500 | 22.7% | 13.6% |
| Waterloo | 990 | $67,941 | $231,400 | 18.7% | 7.6% |
| Harvard | 1,008 | $66,000 | $102,100 | 13.1% | 7.3% |
| Franklin | 946 | $53,375 | $89,200 | 18.7% | 14.6% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 945, Arnold's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.
Population Overview
Arnold is a small community located in Nebraska, within Custer County. The total population is 945. It ranks as the 127th most populous out of 583 Census-designated places in Nebraska.
Age Demographics
The median age in Arnold is 35.8 years. This is 4% lower than the state median of 37.2 years. With 30.8% of the population under 18, Arnold has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Arnold is $64,688. This is 15% lower than the state median of $76,475. It is also 20% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 8.0%. This is 25% lower than the state poverty rate of 10.6%. The unemployment rate is 1.6%. This is 47% lower than the state rate of 3.0%. The median home value is $146,700. Housing costs are 39% lower than the state median of $238,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.3x, Arnold is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 72.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 10% higher than the state average of 66.5%.
Race & Ethnicity
Arnold has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 87.5% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 7.1%. The Black or African American population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 4.6%.
Education
26.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 25% lower than the state rate of 34.6%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 96.7%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Arnold, Nebraska is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Nebraska state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 583 Census-designated places in Nebraska. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.
Free data download: Get all Nebraska city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Arnold, Nebraska?
Arnold, Nebraska has a population of 945 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Arnold, NE?
The median household income in Arnold is $64,688, which is 20% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Arnold, NE?
The poverty rate in Arnold is 8.0%. This means approximately 73 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Arnold, Nebraska?
Arnold's population is 87.5% White, 0.5% Black, 7.1% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Arnold, NE?
The median home value in Arnold is $146,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 2.3x.
How educated is Arnold, Nebraska?
26.1% of adults (25+) in Arnold hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 12.3% hold a graduate or professional degree.