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Chase County, Nebraska Demographics 2026

Chase County, Nebraska has a population of 3,639, the 61st most populous county in Nebraska. The median household income is $62,782 and the median home value is $178,700. The poverty rate is 7.8%.

Chase County Quick Facts

Population 3,639
Median Household Income $62,782
Median Home Value $178,700
Poverty Rate 7.8%
Unemployment Rate 1.7%
Median Age 41.8 years
Homeownership Rate 77.5%
Affordability Ratio 2.8x
Bachelor's Degree+ 24.1%
High School Graduation 88.5%
Cities/Places 4
Population 3,639 61st of 93
Median Income $62,782 16% lower than state
Poverty Rate 7.8%
Unemployment 1.7%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 14.4%
$25K-$50K 23.9%
$50K-$100K 35.4%
$100K+ 26.4%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
1.7%
$10K-$15K
3.5%
$15K-$20K
4.4%
$20K-$25K
4.9%
$25K-$30K
6.0%
$30K-$35K
3.7%
$35K-$40K
2.3%
$40K-$45K
5.9%
$45K-$50K
6.0%
$50K-$60K
10.9%
$60K-$75K
9.5%
$75K-$100K
15.0%
$100K-$125K
9.1%
$125K-$150K
7.6%
$150K-$200K
3.6%
$200K+
6.0%

Employment

1.7% Unemployment Rate State: 3.0%|National: 5.2%
60.8% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 77.5%
Renter 22.5%
Affordability Index Very Affordable
2.8x home value to income ratio

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

37out of 100
Low Diversity

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

State average: 40 | National average: 61

Education

Cities & Places in Chase County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Imperial2,182$71,66710.3%$176,700
Wauneta515$46,5189.0%$86,300
Champion13N/A0.0%N/A
Lamar7N/A0.0%N/A

Population Overview

Chase County is located in Nebraska with a total population of 3,639. It is the 61st most populous county out of 93 in Nebraska. The county encompasses 4 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Chase County is 41.8 years. This is 13% higher than the state median of 37.1 years. 12.7% 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 Chase County is $62,782. This is 16% lower than the state median of $74,985. It is also 20% lower than the national median of $78,538. The poverty rate stands at 7.8%. This is 25% lower than the state poverty rate of 10.3%. The unemployment rate is 1.7%. This is 43% lower than the state rate of 3.0%. The median home value is $178,700. Housing costs are 20% lower than the state median of $223,800. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.8x, Chase County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 77.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 17% higher than the state average of 66.5%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Chase County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 77.0% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 18.4%. The Black or African American population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 4.6%.

Education

24.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 29% lower than the state rate of 34.1%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 88.5%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Chase County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023), 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 Chase County, Nebraska?

Chase County has a population of 3,639, making it the 61st most populous county in Nebraska.

What is the median income in Chase County?

The median household income in Chase County is $62,782 with a poverty rate of 7.8%.

How many cities are in Chase County, Nebraska?

Chase County contains 4 Census-designated places.