Dawes County, Nebraska Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Dawes County is located in Nebraska with a total population of 8,212. It is the 36th most populous county out of 93 in Nebraska.

Age Demographics

The median age in Dawes County is 35.2 years. This is 5% lower than the state median of 37.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Dawes County is $54,381. This is 27% lower than the state median of $74,985. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 31% lower. The poverty rate stands at 12.6%. This is 22% higher than the state poverty rate of 10.3%. The unemployment rate is 1.5%. This is 49% lower than the state rate of 3.0%. The median home value is $146,500. Housing costs are 35% lower than the state median of $223,800. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.7x, Dawes County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 65.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 1% lower than the state average of 66.5%.

Race & Ethnicity

Dawes County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 86.5% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 4.8%. The Black or African American population (1.4%) is well below the state average of 4.6%. The Hispanic or Latino population (4.8%) is well below the state average of 12.3%. The Asian population (1.0%) is well below the state average of 2.5%.

Education

35.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Dawes County in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 3% higher 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 95.7%. Notably, 16.9% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.