Indianola, Nebraska Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Indianola, Nebraska had a total population of 512, the 210th largest city in Nebraska, with a median household income of $55,481, which is 27% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 5.7%.
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 1.6x.
Indianola Quick Facts
How Indianola 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 | 460 | 512 | +11.3% |
| Median household income | $49,615 | $55,481 | +11.8% |
| Median home value | $85,500 | $91,000 | +6.4% |
How Indianola 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+)
Indianola Rankings in Nebraska
Explore Nebraska Rankings
Other Cities in Red Willow County
Cities Similar to Indianola
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids | 493 | $54,519 | $79,600 | 16.1% | 11.4% |
| Sargent | 534 | $54,423 | $57,900 | 19.0% | 10.7% |
| Decatur | 482 | $55,313 | $104,800 | 13.1% | 13.3% |
| Edgar | 501 | $50,625 | $95,000 | 24.8% | 16.4% |
| Beaver City | 547 | $56,354 | $78,900 | 16.0% | 7.8% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 512, Indianola'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
Indianola is a small community located in Nebraska, within Red Willow County. The total population is 512. It ranks as the 210th most populous out of 583 Census-designated places in Nebraska.
Age Demographics
The median age in Indianola is 39.0 years. This is 5% higher than the state median of 37.2 years. 12.1% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Indianola is $55,481. This is 27% lower than the state median of $76,475. It is also 31% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 5.7%. This is 47% lower than the state poverty rate of 10.6%. The unemployment rate is 3.2%. This is 5% higher than the state rate of 3.0%. The median home value is $91,000. Housing costs are 62% lower than the state median of $238,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.6x, Indianola is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 86.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 30% higher than the state average of 66.5%.
Race & Ethnicity
Indianola has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 92.0% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 5.9%. The Black or African American population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 4.6%. The Hispanic or Latino population (5.9%) is well below the state average of 12.7%.
Education
15.6% 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 97.4%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Indianola, 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 Indianola, Nebraska?
Indianola, Nebraska has a population of 512 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Indianola, NE?
The median household income in Indianola is $55,481, which is 31% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Indianola, NE?
The poverty rate in Indianola is 5.7%. This means approximately 29 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Indianola, Nebraska?
Indianola's population is 92.0% White, 0.4% Black, 5.9% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Indianola, NE?
The median home value in Indianola is $91,000. The home-value-to-income ratio is 1.6x.
How educated is Indianola, Nebraska?
15.6% of adults (25+) in Indianola hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 5.9% hold a graduate or professional degree.