Valley County, Nebraska Demographics 2026

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

Valley County, Nebraska has a population of 4,094, the 59th most populous county in Nebraska. The median household income is $58,902 and the median home value is $122,200. The poverty rate is 9.3%.

Valley County Quick Facts

Population 4,094

Median Household Income $58,902

Median Home Value $122,200

Poverty Rate 9.3%

Unemployment Rate 0.4%

Median Age 45.4 years

Homeownership Rate 72.9%

Affordability Ratio 2.1x

Bachelor's Degree+ 27.6%

High School Graduation 94.4%

Cities/Places 4

Population 4,094 59th of 93

Median Income $58,902 21% lower than state

Poverty Rate 9.3%

Unemployment 0.4%

Median Household Income

Valley

$58,902

$74,985

National

$78,538

Median Home Value

Valley

$122,200

$223,800

National

$303,400

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 15.4%

$25K-$50K 19.5%

$50K-$100K 40.1%

$100K+ 25.0%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

3.4%

$10K-$15K

3.5%

$15K-$20K

3.2%

$20K-$25K

5.4%

$25K-$30K

2.8%

$30K-$35K

4.0%

$35K-$40K

4.9%

$40K-$45K

5.5%

$45K-$50K

2.3%

$50K-$60K

16.7%

$60K-$75K

9.5%

$75K-$100K

13.9%

$100K-$125K

8.7%

$125K-$150K

4.3%

$150K-$200K

3.6%

$200K+

8.3%

Employment

0.4% Unemployment Rate State: 3.0%|National: 5.2%

63.8% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 72.9%

Renter 27.1%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

2.1x home value to income ratio

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

22.3%

18-34

17.5%

35-54

20.6%

55-74

27.5%

75+

12.0%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Very Low Diversity

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 Valley County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Ord	2,186	$53,274	10.9%	$109,500
Arcadia	347	$82,273	4.0%	$118,200
North Loup	263	$49,141	12.2%	$55,000
Elyria	34	$54,375	11.8%	N/A

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

Valley County is located in Nebraska with a total population of 4,094. It is the 59th most populous county out of 93 in Nebraska. The county encompasses 4 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Valley County is 45.4 years. This is 22% higher than the state median of 37.1 years. 12.0% 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 Valley County is $58,902. This is 21% lower than the state median of $74,985. It is also 25% lower than the national median of $78,538. The poverty rate stands at 9.3%. This is 10% lower than the state poverty rate of 10.3%. The unemployment rate is 0.4%. This is 87% lower than the state rate of 3.0%. The median home value is $122,200. Housing costs are 45% lower than the state median of $223,800. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.1x, Valley County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 72.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 10% higher than the state average of 66.5%.

Race & Ethnicity

Valley County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 95.7% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.6%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.6%) is well below the state average of 12.3%. The Asian population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 2.5%.

Education

27.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 19% 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 94.4%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Valley 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 Valley County, Nebraska?

Valley County has a population of 4,094, making it the 59th most populous county in Nebraska.

What is the median income in Valley County?

The median household income in Valley County is $58,902 with a poverty rate of 9.3%.

How many cities are in Valley County, Nebraska?

Valley County contains 4 Census-designated places.