Clearwater, Nebraska Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Clearwater, Nebraska had a total population of 312, the 278th largest village in Nebraska, with a median household income of $60,625, which is 21% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 15.1%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.5x.
Clearwater Quick Facts
How Clearwater 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 | 240 | 312 | +30.0% |
| Median household income | $61,667 | $60,625 | -1.7% |
| Median home value | $77,500 | $88,000 | +13.5% |
How Clearwater Compares
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+)
Clearwater Rankings in Nebraska
Explore Nebraska Rankings
Other Cities in Antelope County
Cities Similar to Clearwater
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Libory | 307 | N/A | $145,000 | 3.0% | 7.5% |
| Spencer | 312 | $58,667 | $82,500 | 12.8% | 8.6% |
| Palisade | 321 | $62,813 | $81,300 | 15.5% | 9.3% |
| Clatonia | 326 | $60,208 | $126,100 | 13.7% | 8.3% |
| Hayes Center | 297 | $58,750 | $85,600 | 21.6% | 17.5% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 312, Clearwater's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.
Population Overview
Clearwater is a small community located in Nebraska, within Antelope County. The total population is 312. It ranks as the 278th most populous out of 583 Census-designated places in Nebraska.
Age Demographics
The median age in Clearwater is 54.3 years. This is 46% higher than the state median of 37.2 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Clearwater is $60,625. This is 21% lower than the state median of $76,475. It is also 25% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 15.1%. This is 42% higher than the state poverty rate of 10.6%. The unemployment rate is 3.8%. This is 26% higher than the state rate of 3.0%. The median home value is $88,000. Housing costs are 63% lower than the state median of $238,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.5x, Clearwater is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 82.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 25% higher than the state average of 66.5%.
Race & Ethnicity
Clearwater has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 96.8% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.6%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.6%) is well below the state average of 12.7%.
Education
16.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 53% 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 94.9%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Clearwater, Nebraska is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Nebraska state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 583 Census-designated places in Nebraska. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Clearwater, Nebraska?
Clearwater, Nebraska has a population of 312 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Clearwater, NE?
The median household income in Clearwater is $60,625, which is 25% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Clearwater, NE?
The poverty rate in Clearwater is 15.1%. This means approximately 47 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Clearwater, Nebraska?
Clearwater's population is 96.8% White, 0.0% Black, 2.6% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Clearwater, NE?
The median home value in Clearwater is $88,000. The home-value-to-income ratio is 1.5x.
How educated is Clearwater, Nebraska?
16.1% of adults (25+) in Clearwater hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 4.7% hold a graduate or professional degree.