Thayer County, Nebraska Demographics 2026

Name: Thayer County, Nebraska Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Thayer County, Nebraska has a population of 4,901, the 56th most populous county in Nebraska. The median household income is $66,213 and the median home value is $122,800. The poverty rate is 9.0%.

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

Thayer County Quick Facts

Population 4,901

Median Household Income $66,213

Median Home Value $122,800

Poverty Rate 9.0%

Unemployment Rate 2.0%

Median Age 46.0 years

Homeownership Rate 77.5%

Affordability Ratio 1.9x

Bachelor's Degree+ 23.8%

High School Graduation 94.9%

Cities/Places 11

Population 4,901 56th of 93

Median Income $66,213 13% lower than state

Poverty Rate 9.0%

Unemployment 2.0%

How Thayer County Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric	2019–2023	2020–2024	Change
Population	4,938	4,901	-0.7%
Median household income	$63,095	$66,213	+4.9%
Median home value	$106,200	$122,800	+15.6%

Median Household Income

Thayer

$66,213

$76,475

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Thayer

$122,800

$238,600

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 16.6%

$25K-$50K 19.3%

$50K-$100K 33.1%

$100K+ 31.0%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

3.7%

$10K-$15K

3.3%

$15K-$20K

3.3%

$20K-$25K

6.3%

$25K-$30K

3.6%

$30K-$35K

3.4%

$35K-$40K

6.3%

$40K-$45K

3.2%

$45K-$50K

2.7%

$50K-$60K

8.2%

$60K-$75K

11.4%

$75K-$100K

13.4%

$100K-$125K

13.1%

$125K-$150K

6.4%

$150K-$200K

6.1%

$200K+

5.5%

Employment

2.0% Unemployment Rate State: 3.0%|National: 5.2%

63.3% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 77.5%

Renter 22.5%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

1.9x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $766/mo 13.9% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

22.7%

18-34

15.6%

35-54

22.2%

55-74

28.5%

75+

11.0%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Very Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 41 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in Thayer County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Hebron	1,577	$65,833	9.3%	$139,100
Deshler	729	$57,188	12.8%	$102,300
Bruning	259	$73,750	3.9%	$132,100
Davenport	257	$67,083	5.1%	$87,800
Chester	240	$71,875	11.3%	$76,800
Carleton	189	$81,250	1.1%	N/A
Alexandria	101	$56,250	20.8%	$29,200
Byron	92	$50,417	14.1%	$55,000
Hubbell	61	N/A	18.0%	$41,700
Belvidere	35	N/A	28.6%	N/A
Gilead	30	$62,500	0.0%	$27,500

Explore Nebraska Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Thayer County is located in Nebraska with a total population of 4,901. It is the 56th most populous county out of 93 in Nebraska. The county encompasses 11 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Thayer County is 46.0 years. This is 24% higher than the state median of 37.2 years. 11.0% 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 Thayer County is $66,213. This is 13% lower than the state median of $76,475. It is also 18% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 9.0%. This is 15% lower than the state poverty rate of 10.6%. The unemployment rate is 2.0%. This is 34% lower than the state rate of 3.0%. The median home value is $122,800. Housing costs are 49% lower than the state median of $238,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.9x, Thayer County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 77.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 17% higher than the state average of 66.5%.

Race & Ethnicity

Thayer County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 93.1% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 3.2%. The Black or African American population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 4.6%. The Hispanic or Latino population (3.2%) is well below the state average of 12.7%. The Asian population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 2.6%.

Education

23.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 31% 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 94.9%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Thayer 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 Thayer County, Nebraska?

Thayer County has a population of 4,901, making it the 56th most populous county in Nebraska.

What is the median income in Thayer County?

The median household income in Thayer County is $66,213 with a poverty rate of 9.0%.

How many cities are in Thayer County, Nebraska?

Thayer County contains 11 Census-designated places.