Dawson County, Nebraska Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Dawson County is located in Nebraska with a total population of 24,020. It is the 13th most populous county out of 93 in Nebraska. The county encompasses 3 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Dawson County is 35.8 years. This is 4% lower than the state median of 37.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Dawson County is $65,383. This is 13% lower than the state median of $74,985. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 17% lower. The poverty rate stands at 12.3%. This is 20% higher than the state poverty rate of 10.3%. The unemployment rate is 1.9%. This is 36% lower than the state rate of 3.0%. The median home value is $157,800. Housing costs are 29% lower than the state median of $223,800. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.4x, Dawson County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 64.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 3% lower than the state average of 66.5%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Dawson County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 53.9% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 36.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (36.3% vs 12.3%). The Asian population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 2.5%.

Education

17.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 49% 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 77.8%.