Dalton, Nebraska Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Dalton, Nebraska had a total population of 435, the 231st largest village in Nebraska, with a median household income of $66,042, which is 14% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 6.7%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- 35.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher — top 10% in Nebraska.
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.4x.
Dalton Quick Facts
How Dalton 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 | 470 | 435 | -7.4% |
| Median household income | $65,000 | $66,042 | +1.6% |
| Median home value | $89,500 | $95,700 | +6.9% |
How Dalton 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+)
Dalton Rankings in Nebraska
Explore Nebraska Rankings
Other Cities in Cheyenne County
Cities Similar to Dalton
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leigh | 443 | $63,500 | $95,400 | 18.2% | 6.1% |
| Dodge | 446 | $59,688 | $126,100 | 14.5% | 8.1% |
| Chambers | 424 | $73,333 | $91,000 | 34.8% | 10.9% |
| Giltner | 457 | $73,250 | $184,900 | 19.1% | 5.4% |
| Palmer | 403 | $62,578 | $123,900 | 15.0% | 5.7% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 435, Dalton'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
Dalton is a small community located in Nebraska, within Cheyenne County. The total population is 435. It ranks as the 231st most populous out of 583 Census-designated places in Nebraska.
Age Demographics
The median age in Dalton is 36.9 years. This is about the same as the state median of 37.2 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Dalton is $66,042. This is 14% 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 6.7%. This is 37% lower than the state poverty rate of 10.6%. The survey records no unemployed residents in Dalton, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $95,700. Housing costs are 60% lower than the state median of $238,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.4x, Dalton is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 88.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 32% higher than the state average of 66.5%.
Race & Ethnicity
Dalton has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 88.5% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 5.5%. The Hispanic or Latino population (5.5%) is well below the state average of 12.7%.
Education
35.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Dalton in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 2% higher 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 89.2%. Notably, 19.9% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Dalton, 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.
Free data download: Get all Nebraska city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Dalton, Nebraska?
Dalton, Nebraska has a population of 435 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Dalton, NE?
The median household income in Dalton is $66,042, which is 18% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Dalton, NE?
The poverty rate in Dalton is 6.7%. This means approximately 29 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Dalton, Nebraska?
Dalton's population is 88.5% White, 0.0% Black, 5.5% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Dalton, NE?
The median home value in Dalton is $95,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 1.4x.
How educated is Dalton, Nebraska?
35.4% of adults (25+) in Dalton hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 19.9% hold a graduate or professional degree.