Cherry County, Nebraska Demographics 2026

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

Cherry County, Nebraska has a population of 5,498, the 51st most populous county in Nebraska. The median household income is $66,270 and the median home value is $152,200. The poverty rate is 8.3%.

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

Cherry County Quick Facts

Population 5,498

Median Household Income $66,270

Median Home Value $152,200

Poverty Rate 8.3%

Unemployment Rate 0.4%

Median Age 41.4 years

Homeownership Rate 61.4%

Affordability Ratio 2.3x

Bachelor's Degree+ 25.3%

High School Graduation 96.2%

Cities/Places 8

Population 5,498 51st of 93

Median Income $66,270 13% lower than state

Poverty Rate 8.3%

Unemployment 0.4%

How Cherry 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	5,468	5,498	+0.5%
Median household income	$63,750	$66,270	+4.0%
Median home value	$136,000	$152,200	+11.9%

Median Household Income

Cherry

$66,270

$76,475

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Cherry

$152,200

$238,600

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 12.8%

$25K-$50K 23.5%

$50K-$100K 39.5%

$100K+ 24.2%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

1.6%

$10K-$15K

4.4%

$15K-$20K

3.9%

$20K-$25K

2.9%

$25K-$30K

3.8%

$30K-$35K

9.3%

$35K-$40K

6.8%

$40K-$45K

2.5%

$45K-$50K

1.2%

$50K-$60K

9.1%

$60K-$75K

15.5%

$75K-$100K

14.8%

$100K-$125K

8.5%

$125K-$150K

4.3%

$150K-$200K

5.8%

$200K+

5.7%

Employment

0.4% Unemployment Rate State: 3.0%|National: 5.2%

67.2% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 61.4%

Renter 38.6%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

2.3x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $916/mo 16.6% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

23.4%

18-34

17.5%

35-54

23.1%

55-74

25.9%

75+

10.1%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

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 Cherry County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Valentine	2,633	$56,898	9.1%	$148,600
Kilgore	135	N/A	5.3%	$48,900
Cody	125	$72,500	11.2%	$102,800
Merriman	117	$41,477	9.4%	N/A
Crookston	45	N/A	33.3%	$48,200
Wood Lake	16	$30,417	18.8%	$55,000
Nenzel	14	$43,750	42.9%	N/A
Brownlee	2	N/A	0.0%	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

Cherry County is located in Nebraska with a total population of 5,498. It is the 51st most populous county out of 93 in Nebraska. The county encompasses 8 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Cherry County is 41.4 years. This is 11% higher than the state median of 37.2 years. 10.1% 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 Cherry County is $66,270. This is 13% lower than the state median of $76,475. It is also 18% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 8.3%. This is 22% lower than the state poverty rate of 10.6%. The unemployment rate is 0.4%. This is 85% lower than the state rate of 3.0%. The median home value is $152,200. Housing costs are 36% lower than the state median of $238,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.3x, Cherry County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 61.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 8% lower than the state average of 66.5%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Cherry County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 83.9% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 3.5%. The Black or African American population (1.0%) is well below the state average of 4.6%. The Hispanic or Latino population (3.5%) is well below the state average of 12.7%.

Education

25.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 27% 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 96.2%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Cherry 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 Cherry County, Nebraska?

Cherry County has a population of 5,498, making it the 51st most populous county in Nebraska.

What is the median income in Cherry County?

The median household income in Cherry County is $66,270 with a poverty rate of 8.3%.

How many cities are in Cherry County, Nebraska?

Cherry County contains 8 Census-designated places.