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Otoe County, Nebraska Demographics 2026

Otoe County, Nebraska has a population of 16,241, the 19th most populous county in Nebraska. The median household income is $82,188 and the median home value is $201,600. The poverty rate is 9.1%.

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

Otoe County Quick Facts

Population 16,241
Median Household Income $82,188
Median Home Value $201,600
Poverty Rate 9.1%
Unemployment Rate 2.7%
Median Age 41.7 years
Homeownership Rate 82.3%
Affordability Ratio 2.5x
Bachelor's Degree+ 27.2%
High School Graduation 93.3%
Cities/Places 11
Population 16,241 19th of 93
Median Income $82,188 7% higher than state
Poverty Rate 9.1%
Unemployment 2.7%

How Otoe 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
Population16,07516,241+1.0%
Median household income$81,430$82,188+0.9%
Median home value$185,000$201,600+9.0%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 12.8%
$25K-$50K 16.5%
$50K-$100K 30.0%
$100K+ 40.7%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
2.8%
$10K-$15K
3.2%
$15K-$20K
3.8%
$20K-$25K
2.9%
$25K-$30K
4.3%
$30K-$35K
1.8%
$35K-$40K
4.8%
$40K-$45K
2.3%
$45K-$50K
3.2%
$50K-$60K
8.0%
$60K-$75K
9.2%
$75K-$100K
12.7%
$100K-$125K
11.0%
$125K-$150K
12.0%
$150K-$200K
10.2%
$200K+
7.5%

Employment

2.7% Unemployment Rate State: 3.0%|National: 5.2%
66.2% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 82.3%
Renter 17.7%
Affordability Index Very Affordable
2.5x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $914/mo 13.3% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

26out 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 Otoe County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Nebraska City7,369$67,11712.1%$162,000
Syracuse1,990$72,4046.7%$205,900
Palmyra589$85,1396.6%$164,500
Unadilla329$70,0008.8%$139,600
Douglas269$71,2507.5%$120,400
Dunbar266$90,79520.3%$68,100
Woodland Hills205$138,6465.9%$452,400
Otoe160$44,37519.4%$49,400
Talmage155$63,92927.1%$83,600
Lorton72N/A20.8%$57,800
Burr41$72,5000.0%$104,200

Population Overview

Otoe County is located in Nebraska with a total population of 16,241. It is the 19th most populous county out of 93 in Nebraska. The county encompasses 11 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Otoe County is 41.7 years. This is 12% higher than the state median of 37.2 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Otoe County is $82,188. This is 7% higher than the state median of $76,475. It is also 2% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 9.1%. This is 14% lower than the state poverty rate of 10.6%. The unemployment rate is 2.7%. This is 11% lower than the state rate of 3.0%. The median home value is $201,600. Housing costs are 16% lower than the state median of $238,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.5x, Otoe County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 82.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 24% higher than the state average of 66.5%.

Race & Ethnicity

Otoe County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 85.5% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 9.0%. The Black or African American population (1.0%) is well below the state average of 4.6%. The Asian population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 2.6%.

Education

27.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 21% 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 93.3%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Otoe 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 Otoe County, Nebraska?

Otoe County has a population of 16,241, making it the 19th most populous county in Nebraska.

What is the median income in Otoe County?

The median household income in Otoe County is $82,188 with a poverty rate of 9.1%.

How many cities are in Otoe County, Nebraska?

Otoe County contains 11 Census-designated places.