Lancaster County, Nebraska Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Lancaster County is located in Nebraska with a total population of 323,673. It is the 2nd most populous county out of 93 in Nebraska. The county encompasses 1 Census-designated place.

Age Demographics

The median age in Lancaster County is 34.3 years. This is 8% lower than the state median of 37.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Lancaster County is $72,625. This is 3% lower than the state median of $74,985. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 8% lower. The poverty rate stands at 11.7%. This is 13% higher than the state poverty rate of 10.3%. The unemployment rate is 3.1%. This is 5% higher than the state rate of 3.0%. The median home value is $258,900. Housing costs are 16% higher than the state median of $223,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.6x. 58.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 12% lower than the state average of 66.5%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Lancaster County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 78.8% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 8.2%. The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (4.0% vs 2.5%).

Education

41.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Lancaster County in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 20% 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 93.5%.