Guide Rock, Nebraska Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 286, Guide Rock'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

Guide Rock is a small community located in Nebraska, within Webster County. The total population is 286. It ranks as the 293rd most populous out of 583 Census-designated places in Nebraska.

Age Demographics

The median age in Guide Rock is 36.8 years. This is 1% lower than the state median of 37.2 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Guide Rock is $39,444. This is 48% lower than the state median of $76,475. It is also 51% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 24.8%. This is 134% higher than the state poverty rate of 10.6%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 5.3%. This is 76% higher than the state rate of 3.0%. The median home value is $44,400. Housing costs are 81% lower than the state median of $238,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.1x, Guide Rock is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 96.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 45% higher than the state average of 66.5%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Guide Rock is White (non-Hispanic), making up 63.3% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 31.8%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (31.8% vs 12.7%).

Education

15.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 55% 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 83.3%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Guide Rock, 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.