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Cedar County, Nebraska Demographics 2026

Cedar County, Nebraska has a population of 8,315, the 34th most populous county in Nebraska. The median household income is $73,578 and the median home value is $185,000. The poverty rate is 7.1%.

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

Cedar County Quick Facts

Population 8,315
Median Household Income $73,578
Median Home Value $185,000
Poverty Rate 7.1%
Unemployment Rate 1.7%
Median Age 41.9 years
Homeownership Rate 79.6%
Affordability Ratio 2.5x
Bachelor's Degree+ 24.0%
High School Graduation 96.4%
Cities/Places 12
Population 8,315 34th of 93
Median Income $73,578 4% lower than state
Poverty Rate 7.1%
Unemployment 1.7%

How Cedar County Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population8,3448,315-0.3%
Median household income$73,977$73,578-0.5%
Median home value$175,500$185,000+5.4%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 11.7%
$25K-$50K 18.9%
$50K-$100K 33.2%
$100K+ 36.2%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
3.2%
$10K-$15K
3.1%
$15K-$20K
2.2%
$20K-$25K
3.3%
$25K-$30K
4.0%
$30K-$35K
3.5%
$35K-$40K
5.9%
$40K-$45K
1.9%
$45K-$50K
3.6%
$50K-$60K
9.3%
$60K-$75K
11.0%
$75K-$100K
13.0%
$100K-$125K
13.7%
$125K-$150K
8.3%
$150K-$200K
9.3%
$200K+
4.8%

Employment

1.7% Unemployment Rate State: 3.0%|National: 5.2%
68.2% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 79.6%
Renter 20.4%
Affordability Index Very Affordable
2.5x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $716/mo 11.7% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

10out of 100
Very Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 41 | National average: 61

Education

Cities & Places in Cedar County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Hartington1,621$80,5772.4%$178,100
Laurel1,018$58,51919.2%$164,200
Randolph877$84,5316.5%$119,000
Coleridge553$46,81813.4%$87,100
Wynot209$77,50011.0%$117,500
Fordyce195$83,12522.6%$106,700
Aten136N/A3.7%N/A
Bow Valley106$86,2500.0%$170,800
Belden101$70,62511.9%$107,500
St. Helena97$85,6254.1%$156,700
Magnet61$59,06314.8%$33,800
Obert16$55,83312.5%N/A

Population Overview

Cedar County is located in Nebraska with a total population of 8,315. It is the 34th most populous county out of 93 in Nebraska. The county encompasses 12 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Cedar County is 41.9 years. This is 13% higher than the state median of 37.2 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Cedar County is $73,578. This is 4% lower than the state median of $76,475. It is also 9% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 7.1%. This is 33% lower 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 $185,000. Housing costs are 22% lower than the state median of $238,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.5x, Cedar County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 79.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 20% higher than the state average of 66.5%.

Race & Ethnicity

Cedar County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 95.0% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.5%. The Black or African American population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 4.6%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.5%) is well below the state average of 12.7%. The Asian population (0.3%) 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 96.4%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Cedar 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 Cedar County, Nebraska?

Cedar County has a population of 8,315, making it the 34th most populous county in Nebraska.

What is the median income in Cedar County?

The median household income in Cedar County is $73,578 with a poverty rate of 7.1%.

How many cities are in Cedar County, Nebraska?

Cedar County contains 12 Census-designated places.