Brown County, Nebraska Demographics 2026

Name: Brown County, Nebraska Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Brown County, Nebraska has a population of 2,869, the 66th most populous county in Nebraska. The median household income is $54,676 and the median home value is $113,900. The poverty rate is 13.4%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Brown County Quick Facts

Population 2,869

Median Household Income $54,676

Median Home Value $113,900

Poverty Rate 13.4%

Unemployment Rate 1.7%

Median Age 45.7 years

Homeownership Rate 74.2%

Affordability Ratio 2.1x

Bachelor's Degree+ 24.0%

High School Graduation 92.3%

Cities/Places 3

Population 2,869 66th of 93

Median Income $54,676 29% lower than state

Poverty Rate 13.4%

Unemployment 1.7%

How Brown County 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	2,739	2,869	+4.7%
Median household income	$51,538	$54,676	+6.1%
Median home value	$100,200	$113,900	+13.7%

Median Household Income

Brown

$54,676

$76,475

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Brown

$113,900

$238,600

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 25.0%

$25K-$50K 21.2%

$50K-$100K 33.3%

$100K+ 20.5%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

6.0%

$10K-$15K

8.7%

$15K-$20K

3.0%

$20K-$25K

7.4%

$25K-$30K

2.4%

$30K-$35K

4.5%

$35K-$40K

7.9%

$40K-$45K

1.9%

$45K-$50K

4.4%

$50K-$60K

8.4%

$60K-$75K

11.5%

$75K-$100K

13.4%

$100K-$125K

5.8%

$125K-$150K

4.2%

$150K-$200K

3.6%

$200K+

6.8%

Employment

1.7% Unemployment Rate State: 3.0%|National: 5.2%

60.7% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 74.2%

Renter 25.8%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

2.1x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $876/mo 19.2% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

20.1%

18-34

17.9%

35-54

20.9%

55-74

28.7%

75+

12.4%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Very Low Diversity

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+)

Cities & Places in Brown County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Ainsworth	1,697	$53,490	13.5%	$107,400
Long Pine	363	$45,625	14.3%	$59,500
Johnstown	12	N/A	41.7%	N/A

Explore Nebraska Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Brown County is located in Nebraska with a total population of 2,869. It is the 66th most populous county out of 93 in Nebraska. The county encompasses 3 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Brown County is 45.7 years. This is 23% higher than the state median of 37.2 years. 12.4% 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 Brown County is $54,676. This is 29% lower than the state median of $76,475. It is also 32% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 13.4%. This is 26% higher than the state poverty rate of 10.6%. The unemployment rate is 1.7%. This is 43% lower than the state rate of 3.0%. The median home value is $113,900. Housing costs are 52% lower than the state median of $238,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.1x, Brown County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 74.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 12% higher than the state average of 66.5%.

Race & Ethnicity

Brown County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 88.5% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 6.2%. The Black or African American population (0.0%) is well below the state average of 4.6%. The Hispanic or Latino population (6.2%) is well below the state average of 12.7%. The Asian population (0.0%) is well below the state average of 2.6%.

Education

24.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 31% 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 92.3%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Brown County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Nebraska and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Brown County, Nebraska?

Brown County has a population of 2,869, making it the 66th most populous county in Nebraska.

What is the median income in Brown County?

The median household income in Brown County is $54,676 with a poverty rate of 13.4%.

How many cities are in Brown County, Nebraska?

Brown County contains 3 Census-designated places.