Macy, Nebraska Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 637, Macy'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

Macy is a small community located in Nebraska, within Thurston County. The total population is 637. It ranks as the 179th most populous out of 583 Census-designated places in Nebraska.

Age Demographics

The median age in Macy is 24.1 years. This is 35% lower than the state median of 37.2 years. With 43.5% of the population under 18, Macy has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Macy is $42,500. This is 44% lower than the state median of $76,475. It is also 47% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 33.3%. This is 214% 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 31.9%. This is 953% higher than the state rate of 3.0%. The median home value is $54,400. Housing costs are 77% lower than the state median of $238,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.3x, Macy is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 12.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 81% lower than the state average of 66.5%.

Race & Ethnicity

Macy is a highly diverse community where no single racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority of the population. Black or African American residents account for 1.4%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (3.9%) is well below the state average of 75.3%. The Black or African American population (1.4%) is well below the state average of 4.6%. The Hispanic or Latino population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 12.7%.

Education

5.6% 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 84% 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 79.2%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Macy, 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.