Stamford, Nebraska Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 178, Stamford'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

Stamford is a small community located in Nebraska, within Harlan County. The total population is 178. It ranks as the 375th most populous out of 583 Census-designated places in Nebraska.

Age Demographics

The median age in Stamford is 43.7 years. This is 17% higher than the state median of 37.2 years. 10.1% 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 Stamford is $29,519. This is 61% lower than the state median of $76,475. It is also 63% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 30.9%. This is 192% 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 10.6%. This is 250% higher than the state rate of 3.0%. The median home value is $49,300. Housing costs are 79% lower than the state median of $238,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.7x, Stamford is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 86.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 30% higher than the state average of 66.5%.

Race & Ethnicity

Stamford has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 89.3% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 6.2%. The Hispanic or Latino population (6.2%) is well below the state average of 12.7%.

Education

15.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 57% 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 94.7%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Stamford, 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.