Pawnee County, Nebraska Demographics 2026
Pawnee County, Nebraska has a population of 2,539, the 72nd most populous county in Nebraska. The median household income is $54,926 and the median home value is $74,800. The poverty rate is 14.1%.
Pawnee County Quick Facts
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 40 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Cities & Places in Pawnee County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pawnee City | 930 | $38,611 | 19.7% | $57,000 |
| Table Rock | 327 | $52,500 | 17.3% | $64,200 |
| Du Bois | 156 | $43,750 | 16.2% | $57,000 |
| Burchard | 125 | $61,944 | 2.4% | $53,800 |
| Steinauer | 95 | $48,182 | 15.8% | $102,500 |
| Lewiston | 40 | $34,375 | 17.5% | $45,500 |
Explore Nebraska Rankings
Population Overview
Pawnee County is located in Nebraska with a total population of 2,539. It is the 72nd most populous county out of 93 in Nebraska. The county encompasses 6 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Pawnee County is 47.1 years. This is 27% higher than the state median of 37.1 years. 14.0% 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 Pawnee County is $54,926. This is 27% lower than the state median of $74,985. It is also 30% lower than the national median of $78,538. The poverty rate stands at 14.1%. This is 37% higher than the state poverty rate of 10.3%. The unemployment rate is 1.7%. This is 45% lower than the state rate of 3.0%. The median home value is $74,800. Housing costs are 67% lower than the state median of $223,800. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.4x, Pawnee County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 80.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 22% higher than the state average of 66.5%.
Race & Ethnicity
Pawnee County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 94.0% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 1.8%. The Black or African American population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 4.6%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.8%) is well below the state average of 12.3%.
Education
20.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 40% lower 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 87.9%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Pawnee County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023), 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 Pawnee County, Nebraska?
Pawnee County has a population of 2,539, making it the 72nd most populous county in Nebraska.
What is the median income in Pawnee County?
The median household income in Pawnee County is $54,926 with a poverty rate of 14.1%.
How many cities are in Pawnee County, Nebraska?
Pawnee County contains 6 Census-designated places.