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Johnson County, Nebraska Demographics 2026

Johnson County, Nebraska has a population of 5,261, the 53rd most populous county in Nebraska. The median household income is $57,632 and the median home value is $155,500. The poverty rate is 9.7%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Johnson County Quick Facts

Population 5,261
Median Household Income $57,632
Median Home Value $155,500
Poverty Rate 9.7%
Unemployment Rate 3.4%
Median Age 41.1 years
Homeownership Rate 67.2%
Affordability Ratio 2.7x
Bachelor's Degree+ 17.7%
High School Graduation 86.8%
Cities/Places 5
Population 5,261 53rd of 93
Median Income $57,632 25% lower than state
Poverty Rate 9.7%
Unemployment 3.4%

How Johnson County Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population5,2635,261-0.0%
Median household income$59,457$57,632-3.1%
Median home value$131,500$155,500+18.3%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 15.2%
$25K-$50K 28.6%
$50K-$100K 28.8%
$100K+ 27.5%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
5.0%
$10K-$15K
4.7%
$15K-$20K
2.9%
$20K-$25K
2.5%
$25K-$30K
6.2%
$30K-$35K
6.1%
$35K-$40K
4.3%
$40K-$45K
7.1%
$45K-$50K
4.9%
$50K-$60K
7.3%
$60K-$75K
9.4%
$75K-$100K
12.1%
$100K-$125K
9.9%
$125K-$150K
5.9%
$150K-$200K
7.5%
$200K+
4.2%

Employment

3.4% Unemployment Rate State: 3.0%|National: 5.2%
49.1% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 67.2%
Renter 32.8%
Affordability Index Very Affordable
2.7x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $779/mo 16.2% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

38out of 100
Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 41 | National average: 61

Education

Cities & Places in Johnson County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Tecumseh1,882$45,35712.8%$106,300
Sterling717$70,31311.6%$130,400
Cook328$65,71410.7%$110,400
Elk Creek122$55,62527.1%$40,000
Crab Orchard20$62,5005.0%$43,000

Population Overview

Johnson County is located in Nebraska with a total population of 5,261. It is the 53rd most populous county out of 93 in Nebraska. The county encompasses 5 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Johnson County is 41.1 years. This is 10% higher than the state median of 37.2 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Johnson County is $57,632. This is 25% lower than the state median of $76,475. It is also 29% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 9.7%. This is 8% lower than the state poverty rate of 10.6%. The unemployment rate is 3.4%. This is 11% higher than the state rate of 3.0%. The median home value is $155,500. Housing costs are 35% lower than the state median of $238,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.7x, Johnson County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 67.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 1% higher than the state average of 66.5%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Johnson County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 77.5% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 11.9%. The Asian population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 2.6%.

Education

17.7% 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 34.6%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 86.8%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Johnson County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Nebraska and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Johnson County, Nebraska?

Johnson County has a population of 5,261, making it the 53rd most populous county in Nebraska.

What is the median income in Johnson County?

The median household income in Johnson County is $57,632 with a poverty rate of 9.7%.

How many cities are in Johnson County, Nebraska?

Johnson County contains 5 Census-designated places.