Buffalo County, Nebraska Demographics 2026
Buffalo County, Nebraska has a population of 50,579, the 5th most populous county in Nebraska. The median household income is $75,911 and the median home value is $246,400. The poverty rate is 9.9%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Buffalo County Quick Facts
How Buffalo 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 | 50,323 | 50,579 | +0.5% |
| Median household income | $74,570 | $75,911 | +1.8% |
| Median home value | $236,800 | $246,400 | +4.1% |
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+)
Cities & Places in Buffalo County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kearney | 34,246 | $69,724 | 12.4% | $244,600 |
| Gibbon | 1,763 | $70,069 | 5.3% | $173,800 |
| Ravenna | 1,382 | $64,423 | 12.6% | $135,900 |
| Elm Creek | 1,107 | $79,148 | 11.9% | $191,500 |
| Glenwood | 653 | $143,098 | 0.0% | $337,900 |
| Pleasanton | 556 | $73,750 | 2.4% | $227,500 |
| Riverdale | 307 | $85,227 | 1.6% | $137,500 |
| Amherst | 272 | $69,125 | 2.9% | $169,800 |
| Odessa | 138 | $39,792 | 3.6% | $139,600 |
| Miller | 128 | $90,500 | 11.7% | N/A |
Explore Nebraska Rankings
Population Overview
Buffalo County is located in Nebraska with a total population of 50,579. It is the 5th most populous county out of 93 in Nebraska. The county encompasses 10 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Buffalo County is 35.1 years. This is 6% lower than the state median of 37.2 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Buffalo County is $75,911. This is about the same as the state median of $76,475. It is also 6% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 9.9%. This is 7% lower than the state poverty rate of 10.6%. The unemployment rate is 2.6%. This is 16% lower than the state rate of 3.0%. The median home value is $246,400. Housing costs are 3% higher than the state median of $238,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.2x. 66.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Buffalo County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 83.8% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 10.7%. The Black or African American population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 4.6%.
Education
34.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Buffalo County in the top 10% of all counties in the state for educational attainment. This is about the same as 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 93.8%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Buffalo 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 Buffalo County, Nebraska?
Buffalo County has a population of 50,579, making it the 5th most populous county in Nebraska.
What is the median income in Buffalo County?
The median household income in Buffalo County is $75,911 with a poverty rate of 9.9%.
How many cities are in Buffalo County, Nebraska?
Buffalo County contains 10 Census-designated places.