Lyman, Nebraska Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 291, Lyman'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

Lyman is a small community located in Nebraska, within Scotts Bluff County. The total population is 291. It ranks as the 291st most populous out of 583 Census-designated places in Nebraska.

Age Demographics

The median age in Lyman is 54.8 years. This is 47% higher than the state median of 37.2 years. Only 7.6% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 18.9% 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 Lyman is $55,047. This is 28% lower than the state median of $76,475. It is also 32% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 20.3%. This is 91% 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 6.8%. This is 125% higher than the state rate of 3.0%. The median home value is $68,300. Housing costs are 71% lower than the state median of $238,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.2x, Lyman is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 66.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Lyman is White (non-Hispanic), making up 60.5% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 37.5%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (37.5% vs 12.7%).

Education

3.7% 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 89% 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 89.4%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Lyman, 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.