Benkelman, Nebraska Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 905, Benkelman'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

Benkelman is a small community located in Nebraska, within Dundy County. The total population is 905. It ranks as the 131st most populous out of 583 Census-designated places in Nebraska.

Age Demographics

The median age in Benkelman is 44.1 years. This is 19% higher than the state median of 37.2 years. 11.7% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Benkelman is $42,188. This is 45% lower than the state median of $76,475. It is also 48% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 19.0%. This is 80% higher than the state poverty rate of 10.6%. The survey records no unemployed residents in Benkelman, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $114,500. Housing costs are 52% lower than the state median of $238,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.7x, Benkelman 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

Benkelman has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 93.6% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 0.8%. The Black or African American population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 4.6%. The Hispanic or Latino population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 12.7%.

Education

19.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 42% 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 92.7%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Benkelman, 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.